Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Maryland for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership, along with Mr. Waxman and Mr. Souder, who I have had the pleasure of working with on these issues, both from the perspective of interdiction, along the ``third border,'' but also from the perspective of homeland security as it relates to the northern and southern borders. I rise to acknowledge and appreciate the great amount of work that has gone into this legislative initiative, and particularly as it relates to the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. I recall that one of my first introductions to the severity of drug usage and the willingness to work full time on this issue was the opportunity to visit with Mr. Cummings in his area, the city of Baltimore, which he was not reticent to let us know that there was a problem, and a problem, of course, that was connected to HIV/AIDS, and he has been working without ceasing to make great strides in the city of Baltimore. Mr. Cummings, I want to congratulate you both for introducing Members of Congress to the crisis early on, as well your leadership in this area. So I don't take away from this legislative initiative the importance of stemming the rising tide of drug usage. In fact, we had thought, I think, in some years past that there was a curving down. But for those who are listening to this debate and the many drug treatment centers around America and the addicted persons, I know that they are willing to admit that we still have a concern and a crisis, and the reauthorization of this particular agency is important for the work that it does. In particular, as cochair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I see a frightening rise in the utilization of addictive substances by our children, particularly ages 12 to 17. We have seen a rising increase in the number of girls that are participating in drug usage, whether or not it is alcohol, starting in middle school; and we know that if you start taking substances like alcohol in middle school, by the time you reach the high school level you are addicted and we have a problem. We know also that the scourge of cigarettes, though we find that the usage overall may be going down, is still attractive to children. You say no and they want to say yes. And then, of course, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, we have consistently fought against the rising tide, the violent tide of methamphetamine use that started in our rural America, creeps into our cities; and the stories of blown up methamphetamine labs is a rage across America. In fact, I remember one of the first legislative initiatives that I passed was to stand against or to stop the use of a date-rape drug which was being made in bathtubs across America. So this is an important response to that, and I hope that we will have an opportunity to accept my amendment on the floor that hopes to provide an assessment of where we are as it relates to intervention; to Federal and State programs that deal with assessing the use of drugs by children ages 12 to 17, a very simple premise; and as well wants to give greater guidance to Federal, State and local authorities as to how they intervene, what is the value, the success story. I hope my colleagues will join me with that support. It is clearly a road map to help us be more effective. I also want to make mention of the fact that this is a homeland security issue, because I believe Mr. Souder participated in hearings dealing with utilization of drugs as money that can be laundered for terrorist activity. We are particularly focused on those areas in our borders around America. So we need to stop the violent tide of drugs. In fact, as a member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, we know that there are the combination of the smugglers of drugs with the huge cartels and the smugglers of human beings. They are intermixed and intertwined. They are there to do nothing but ill and evil. So these are important overlapping areas. I thank this committee for its leadership. Let me mention an area, however, that I want to focus on, and I want to associate myself with Mr. Kucinich and his concerns about the early incarceration, or trying juveniles as adults. That is why I want to have this assessment, because I believe it is important to be guided in the right procedures or right processes for our children, whether or not jail time, whether trying them as an adult is more effective than the intervention and good programs that are necessary. Frankly, I think the good programs weigh more in stopping the tide of the utilization of drugs by our children. There should be some consideration to that. And then let me, in conclusion, bring up Tulia, Texas, where, a, if you will, rogue cop was able to charge many, many of our constituents in Tulia, Texas, with false charges of drug use. In fact, most of the city found themselves charged with drug offenses down in the court house. This was a horrible episode of the utilization of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. This was an abuse that is beyond our appreciation. I am grateful to the Congressional Black Caucus and various leaders of that caucus who saw the injustices. No, we are not here to promote the proliferation of drug use, but we are here to cite some of the failings of the rogue activities that come out of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, where there were innocent individuals who were, if you will, networked in, fish-netted in, conspiratorially grabbed into this whole drug conspiracy, mothers and uncles, brothers. Sometimes whole families were wrapped up in, indicted, tried and convicted, many of whom were serving jail time until we were able to get our hands on the investigation, lawyers were able to intervene, and the rogue cop was exposed and all of his testimony was discovered to be false. So there needs to be an oversight and a concern about whether or not these are effective uses of our dollars and whether or not we can effectively have oversight, so that, yes, the drug dealers who are poisoning our community, real drug dealers, the cartels, the smugglers of drugs, the producers of methamphetamine labs, the sellers of prescription drugs for children to use and others, the abuse of cough medicine, all of that is important to be able to highlight, to indict, try and convict, but not to go in and use a fishnet, rely only on the testimony of a rogue cop and have no other evidence to be utilized and to break the backs, the hearts of families, and to destroy a community. And so I hope that as we move this legislation forward, we will be able to be focused on the good items that are here, the direction that we can go with our children with an amendment that I have on the assessment of our programs; and, of course, Mr. Cummings, thank you for the concern that when people are under this particular legislation, there is a basis for fairness and accuracy in any charges being made and that people are not singled out because of the color of their skin because they are associated with drug use. With that, let me thank my colleagues for this legislation. I hope my words will be considered as we continue to debate this legislation and fight the war on drugs in a united and positive and successful manner.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Cummings, and I want to thank the chairman very much. I look forward to making sure as we work our way to conference and through conference that we, too, have an effective amendment that addresses the concerns that we are all mutually concerned about: this ascending rate of usage by girls and boys, but by girls, and, of course, making sure we have an assessment of the effective programs. I look forward to working with the chairman, and I thank the chairman very much. Mr. Chairman, and fellow members of the committee, I would like to draw your attention to an amendment that I think is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of our Office of National Drug Control Policy domestically. A recent Washington Post article from February 10 described how girls are trying alcohol and drugs at higher rates than boys. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 730,000 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 started smoking cigarettes in 2004, compared with 565,000 boys, and 675,000 girls started using marijuana, compared with 577,000 boys. In this study, 14.4 percent of girls and 12.5 percent of boys reported misusing prescription drugs. In 2004, 1.5 million girls started drinking alcohol compared with 1.28 million boys. This is appalling, and saddening, and my amendment would directly address this by asking the Director of the ONDCP to assess the drug usage by children, as well as the existing preventive and treatment programs. We can't let our children poison themselves--but in order to take decisive and effective action, we must know more about what the current situation is, and inform our decisionmaking. I hope you will agree that this is an urgent issue, and that this amendment begins the search for a solution. Thank you for your consideration and your support, and thank you Mr. Chairman. Rebuttal to the argument that the National Youth Media Campaign addresses this issue and the amendment would be redundant: This amendment first and foremost requires the ONDCP to document and produce solid research on the occurrence of this problem nationwide. At this point in time, we have a single survey and anecdotal evidence. I think it is crucial to get the ONDCP to take responsibility for this issue and begin to inform decisionmakers. The amendment specifies items to assess that were not considered by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health such as the role of Federal, State, and local criminal justice systems in providing interventions. I would like to believe that the ONDCP can be considered an authority on matters having to do with drug use and abuse by children, and this amendment simply asks for an assessment and a report to Congress on the matter. There were 20,692 drug related arrests in Houston in 2003 (ONDCP). In their lifetime, 32.9 percent of females and 48.9 percent of male Houston area high school students will have a lifetime use of marijuana (ONDCP). In 2000, there were 115,589 federal arrests made--28 percent for drug offenses. In the past month alone, 10.8 percent of youth 12-17 years old have used drugs. Among State prisoners, 83.9 percent were involved with alcohol and drugs at the time of their offense. Fifty-three percent of high school seniors reported using an illicit drug at least once in their lives. White House office of National Drug Control Policy--130 member group led by John Walters. Some estimates say that the U.S. consumes 60 percent of the illicit drugs in the world. Fiscal year 2007 budget request--35 percent for reducing demand of drugs, 65 percent for crackdown of supplies.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman, and I can't thank you enough for the work you have done in a bipartisan effort to preserve a very valuable piece of legislation, the hate crimes legislation that this Congress has gone on record any number of times to be able to support. Mr. Speaker, I wish as I listened to my good friends on the other side of the aisle that we were squarely focusing on protecting our children. In fact, I support the National Sex Offender Registry that is in this particular legislation, the sex crimes, that provides, if you will, a list of the sex offenders all over America. I think that is an important element. I obviously support the idea of preventing sexual assault on juveniles in prison and certainly the vetting of foster care parents that are taking care of our children. But I think the basic fault of this legislation doesn't lie in the House, it lies in the majority leader of the Senate refusing to put this particular legislation on the floor of the Senate and going into conference. My difficulty, of course, is the various kitchen sink elements that are included. I may want to see the Federal judges that are included and protected in this legislation protected, but have we vetted the question of allowing judges to carry guns in the courtroom? Should we not provide more resources to the U.S. marshals who are there to protect both the families of the judges and the people who are in the courtroom? Are we particularly studied on the issue dealing with juvenile crime? Time after time after time it has shown that the trying of a juvenile as an adult does not work. I believe more studied consideration of these legislative initiatives would represent the work of a studied body who cares about getting legislation that is going to withstand judicial scrutiny. This legislation, which I am still in dilemma as to its merits for voting on, raises severe questions. Why didn't the gun legislation get in that eliminates sex offenders from being able to recklessly carry guns? We want to protect our children. We want to pay tribute to the legacy and the work of John Walsh and the legacy of his lost child and the many lost children that we don't want to see happen again. But for God's sake, can we do legislation that embraces all of us who believe in the necessity of protecting our children? There is a frustration of wanting to do what is right and yet having legislation that doesn't allow the vetting, the amending and the responsible consideration. This bill that seeks to protect children has very many merits. I would just beg my colleagues to understand that this process must be one that can last and survive. I can assure you that this will still have trouble in the Senate, because you have left off the hate crimes legislation which was a bipartisan effort. I ask my colleagues for consideration of this bill in the context in which I have discussed this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I hold the Constitution dear and I also believe that we can secure our homeland and we can find the right way to do the PATRIOT Act, but it concerns me when we have allowed the expansion of this act to expand the surveillance of Americans. We did not do what we should have done today because, in fact, national security letters can be issued to any American without showing any culpability or affiliation with terrorist acts or terrorists. In addition, our libraries are not protected because if you have one Internet service at your library, national security letters can be issued, and the gag order that could have been issued under the old bill immediately now has to wait a year. So that means that you are going to be raided with any materials that the government asks for and you cannot even have a gag order issued. I know that we can protect the Constitution, the rights of Americans and still protect national security. Why did we not do it right? This is not the right PATRIOT Act, and for that reason, I had to vote ``no.'' I hope we get it right some day and protect the Constitution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE

Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the proposed legislation, S. 1777, the ``Katrina Emergency Assistance Act of 2005.'' As the law stands, unemployment assistance to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is going to be running out. We urgently need to act to extend unemployment assistance to the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. S. 1777 extends disaster unemployment assistance, DUA, to individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. It does so by expanding FEMA's authority to help individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita by allowing the President to waive the limitations on direct and financial assistance and by providing 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. With merely days remaining before the unemployment benefits begin to expire, the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina and Rita are facing a dire crisis. The survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and from Hurricane Rita, have faced tremendous stress over these past months. Not only have these men and women lost their jobs, but their homes have been razed to the ground, their beloved city swept away, and their livelihoods destroyed. They have suffered through unspeakable devastation, both to their mental and physical states. But, these proud people have not lost hope. Thousands of people, many in my district of Houston, are working hard to find jobs and rebuild their lives. It is very difficult for them to integrate into their new community, and very difficult for them to find a job. In these most trying times, however, their government is threatening to remove them from their temporary, emergency unemployment assistance. Many of these people, their last options exhausted, will be left on the streets. It is a moral, public safety and public health imperative that this not be allowed to occur. I am making an urgent appeal to my colleagues in the House to take the necessary steps to avert this disaster and vote to provide disaster unemployment assistance for the displaced persons. Late last night I received an urgent call from a constituent of mine, Dr. Ikili Graham. Dr. Graham explained that his friends and family were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many had lost their homes and their jobs, and were struggling to integrate in their new city of Houston. Jobs were scarce, but progress was being made. He called to urge me to support S. 1777, a bill that would provide much needed help to those who are still unemployed as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. This bill would extend unemployment assistance for just 13 additional weeks--hopefully enough time for people to find new jobs and sources of income. I would like to passionately thank the Minority Leader and the Speaker of the House for their wisdom in bringing this necessary piece of legislation to the floor. The survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita need our continued support. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the proposed resolution for the foregoing reasons, and I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to follow suit.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentlelady for her leadership, as well as Mr. Shuster. I also thank Mr. Young, and certainly Mr. Oberstar. Mr. Speaker, I represent the bulk of Texans, those of us who are now hosting more than 200,000 Katrina survivors and Rita survivors. Might I say to my good friend who lives a little further from the gulf that he should recognize that this legislation also includes Hurricane Rita survivors, who are all throughout the southern part of Texas. But this is not an isolated whose-State-are-we-in type of legislation. It is a legislative initiative. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I see my ranking member has come who has worked very hard on these issues, this is an answer to the cry of Americans. For anyone to suggest this is frivolous or throwing good money after bad is wrongly focused and misdirected. Let me suggest to you the parameters, or at least the scene, that we are now talking about. We already know that we have suggested that the government in all of its power absolutely abysmally failed in its ability to save the lives of those on the gulf coast, and they knew that there was going to be a catastrophic event. So what we are trying to do here on the floor of the House is, on the backdrop of our failure, not to look back, we wish there was a 9/11- type commission, but to go forward with solutions. I want to applaud my colleagues for going forward. We are going forward by providing assistance to those Katrina and Rita survivors, who are scattered now through 44 States. I would like to ask my colleague, when in the history of America did we scatter Americans throughout 44 States? This is to help those States, because many of the individuals who are there are layered on top of the citizens of Utah, the citizens of Kentucky, the citizens of Georgia, who may be themselves unemployed; and therefore it makes it difficult for them to find jobs, even to be able to develop an income to be able to return home to the gulf coast region. Mr. Speaker, this provides a cushion for those who are scattered in the 44 States. Then it helps additionally those who are in large urban areas like Houston. Houston, of course, a percolating economy, still has its unemployment. So for you to indict people, to suggest that they are doing nothing to find work, you don't know the economy in America. Let me also acknowledge that this particular provision will pay back communities for buying soap and food for those who have been in our community. It also provides for student scholars who are on visas, whose visas may be expiring and they have no paperwork, so they will not be deported, not because they are here illegally, but because they cannot find the paperwork coming from that region. This is an emergency. This is a life-saver. We will be in a devastated condition this Saturday if this bill is not passed. Let me say that the bulk of Texans, the majority of Texans, 90 percent of Texans, understand the value of this legislation; and they want this bill to pass because we see firsthand those who are trying to struggle to survive.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of days we have seen the focus of the American conscience look toward whether America is actually secure. Mr. Speaker, I think it is time now for the administration to craft a policy that answers the enormity of the concerns that Americans have expressed in town hall meetings across America. Frankly, I think when the headlines read 1,300 Iraqi dead, our soldiers standing by, not knowing whether to engage or not in the civil war that is pending, it is actually now time for the President to acknowledge that our troops have done their job, they have won the victory, and they need to come home. And then we speak of securing America and having conflicts cause the tension that they are causing and then we still want to say that it is all right to sell our ports to foreign entities; and, of course, I think America needs to know that in the 2007 budget there is no funding for securing the Nation's ports around America. It is time now for the administration to craft a security posture and policy that really secures America. The time is now.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think there are many issues we can be addressing; but as I recently came back from my district, it is amazing how the idea of selling our ports has caught the hearts and minds of the American people. So I think it is important that we owe them both an explanation and also we owe them the responsibility of oversight. It is important to note that in the 2007 budget we have cut resources for port security, and as well it is important to note that our largest ports in America are suffering under either no appropriations from the Federal Government of America or minimal support. And so I offer legislation, one, to have a 2-year moratorium on the sale, leasing or operating of any of America's ports by foreign entities. And then I would ask for a major study by the Office of the Comptroller and Homeland Security to be able to determine the status of security in the Nation's ports. It would be shocking to note that in Hong Kong, every cargo is surveyed, every cargo container. In the United States we do not do that. I believe we owe the American people secure ports, and we are prepared to do so.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the United States Supreme Court, which is hearing the Texas redistricting case. Had I been present, I would have voted an enthusiastic ``yea'' on the Sandra Day O'Connor resolution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I rise in support of the proposed legislation of H.R. 2872, recognizing Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille literacy Commemorative Coin Act. Louis Braille invented the Braille method for reading and writing by the blind that has allowed millions of blind people to be literate participants in their societies. Braille, who lost his sight at the age of three after injuring himself with an awl in the shop of his father, recognized that the basis in sound and the large number of dots as many as 12 used to represent words was too cumbersome. He developed a code that uses no more than 6 dots in a cell of 2 columns of 3 dots, each to represent each letter and contain a system of punctuation and of contractions to speed writing and reading. He later published another book detailing a system of representation of mathematics. Braille's talents were quickly recognized and at 17, he was made the first blind apprentice teacher at the school, where he taught algebra, grammar, music and geography. However, despite the fact that many blind people enthusiastically adopted the system of writing and reading, but there was great skepticism among sighted people about the real usefulness of Braille code. His literacy aids the blind in taking responsible and self- sufficient roles in society, such as employment. While 70% of the blind are unemployed, 85% of the employed blind are Braille-literate. I propose that Secretary of the Treasury mint and issue no more than 400,000 one dollar coins bearing specific designs. The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis Braille and the design on the obverse shall bear a representation of the image of Louis Braille. I support H.R. 2872 for many foregoing reasons and I urge my colleagues to follow suit.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as my good friend from the Republican side wishes to extinguish debate, let me just indicate, as I started out before, that Thomas Edison represents innovativeness. Unfortunately, our present administration is not innovative. So, Mr. Speaker, I am hoping that my colleagues will join me in being innovative by not yielding to any compromises that may quash the thoughtfulness that we would have in dealing with our homeland security, which, of course, also involves technology. I hope that we will have a reasonable debate. My good friend from the other side of the aisle, I hope he will engage in this debate so that legislation that I am offering that is creative, that deals with putting a moratorium on any of these operations owned by foreign entities, a study by the GAO, a study by Homeland Security about our security, I hope that we will have the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to be relevant at another time. Again, let me say I congratulate the sponsors of this legislation dealing with the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. It exudes innovativeness and respect for creativity in America. It is sad to say that the last week's activities and our failures for America's ports show no creativity. It is time for Congress to be as creative as it can be in securing the Nation's homeland.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I will not yield at this point. point of order

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be able to thank my good friend from New Jersey, Mr. Payne, for his eloquence in commenting on this very important site that will be established. The site is a national historic treasure and contains the world's largest collections of materials related to Thomas Edison. As a member of the House Science Committee, clearly we should use every opportunity to focus on America's researchers and inventors and emphasize that Thomas Edison is one of America's greatest inventors, who has shown not only his love for research and invention, but his inexhaustible energy and genius that produced 1,093 patents in his lifetime, frankly, more than any other American. Just this weekend we spent time in the city of Houston with the State of the Black Union, and one of the issues dealt with the digital divide among African Americans. The idea of highlighting the importance of invention and the importance of technology of that time by establishing and making better the Edison National Historical Site is, I think, an asset not only to the Nation but certainly to the place where it is lodged. I frankly think that America is a Nation that has great creativity, and I am proud to be an American for that very reason. We are problem-solvers. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the further recognition of the works of Thomas Edison by establishing the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in the State of New Jersey, it causes me to be moved to comment on some of the statements that have been made earlier on the floor of the House and the week's events as relates to signs of showing that we are not creative in our governance of America today, that is, of course, the debate and the recognition of the recent contract with UAE as relates to the taking over of a number of ports throughout America. Frankly, let me just say that this is not a debate about the UAE, though we now know today that the Coast Guard has indicated that they are not sure that there is not a potential for there to be a security risk in light of port operations being in the hands of foreign entities. My concern, of course, in this whole debate is the fact that we are dealing with foreign entities in one of our most difficult areas to secure. We know that a ship laden with weapons of mass destruction can be volatile and dangerous.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important, as we have participated in the rising thunder of the discussion of port ownership around America, to say that the American people get it. What they get is that we are in a new day after 9/11. We want to make sure that our constitutional rights are protected, but we also want to make sure the homeland is secure. That is the promise that this administration made to the American people. And, frankly, to know that our ports are subjected to the potential of being bought and sold on the open market is a frightening concept. It is well known that a tanker massed with weapons of mass destruction at any one of our ports could be probably more devastating than the horrific events of 9/11. Tomorrow, I will introduce legislation that will ask for a moratorium for the Nation's ports and the buying and selling to foreign entities, not entities in the Middle East, not entities in Europe, but all foreign entities. I will ask, as well, for a GAO study to determine what is the status of security for our ports. And finally, I will ask for a report on the security status of the 10 largest ports in America. Let's give a solution. We don't need contracts that sell away our security.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for being enormously astute to ensure that there is a marker in the history pages of the Congressional Record that Members of Congress, and particularly Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, rose to ensure that we commemorated African American History. There has been some controversy on this month over the years. Most recently, one of our more respected actors made mention of a very valuable point, that black history, African American history need not be commemorated in one month. In fact, it is American history, and I frankly agree with those words. I think it is important, however, that we take the opportunity to let others know that we have not forgotten. In the course of reading and reviewing what remarks I might make this evening, I came across a very interesting book entitled, ``The African American Bookshelf,'' that categorizes or catalogs, ``50 Must Reads From Before the Civil War Through Today,'' and I wish to share briefly some of the words and stories in this book, but the first I would go to is of more recent vintage, which talks about COINTELPRO. One would argue, how does that relate to the issue of African American history. The COINTEL was the counter-intelligence program, and it was the program utilized in the early parts of the civil rights movement, moving into the black student movement, the Black Panthers, and frankly, it was an effort focused on black activists who were perceived to be agitators, a small piece of African American history that was rarely focused on. In fact, Martin Luther King was the target of COINTELPRO, and rather than understand the movement and understand the voice of Dr. King, who spoke eloquently about nonviolence, this program was a program that ignored the value of the movement and viewed them as threats to America's security and democracy. The COINTELPRO's treatment of Martin Luther King described, and detailed in the COINTELPRO paper, is the most egregious example in what was attempted in his case. It belongs in television fiction, where shadowy government forces are at work, that no one can discover ironically a conspiracy theory had been used all too often in such drama. In essence, Dr. King, in this instance, was considered an enemy of the State. The issue of lynching as well plays a very large part in our history. I know that today we pay tribute to many of our civic organizations, sororities and fraternities and our organizations that captured the sentiment of African Americans, such as the NAACP, the Urban League, the many fraternities and sororities, 100 Black Men, the National Council of Negro Women, the Congress of Black Political Women, many organizations that have created a pathway for African Americans to walk across very troubled waters. But we must also weed in and out of those very great historical perspectives of those organizations to know that they, too, lived alongside challenges like lynchings in the early 1900's, and in this book, it recounts the stories of what lynching actually meant. In fact, we have heard some people call it an act of terror. Why? Because it was an effort to terrorize southern blacks on plantations and in the rural south right after Reconstruction in order to stop the progress that had been made through reconstruction and in moving into the 20th century. So, as we reflect on black history, it is important to look forward and then, of course, to travel down memory lane. What I most want to say about our civic and civil and fraternities and sororities as organizations, I pay tribute to you because you are primarily the infrastructure of our community. When there is a need, these organizations are called upon. When there is a fight for social justice, these organizations are called upon. When, for example, we engage in a legislative strategy, such as the reauthorization of the Voter Rights Act, we call upon these civil and civil rights organizations to help formulate the strategy and begin to ignite the excitement among the community to draw them together. Most recently, we have discovered a new phenomenon called the State of the Black Union, which was established by Tavis Smiley and is in its 7th year, another vehicle to capture the intellectual thought and the practices of not only the civil and civic organizations but also individual philosophers, academicians, physicians, and emerging leaders. I am very grateful that this last one was held in Houston, Texas. I cite this because I believe more and more we must confront the theory that black history should not be relegated to one month; but, frankly, we should be engaged in the thinkings of our history all throughout the year and continue to press the envelope, if you will, that more and more curricula should be including black history. And let me just say to you that what I have discovered over the recent years is that black history in our schools' curricula around America, African American history, is not moving up; it is being dumbed down. Some would say it is because of the cost cuts that many school districts have to make, that they are cutting music and cutting the arts and many times cutting athletics and that the teaching of black history has taken a back seat. We must be more than sensitized to the fact that there are young people today, no matter what their race or color, creed or religion, that are being educated in America's schools with no iota, no understanding whatsoever of this rich history of African Americans, not even the sense of our early slave history and how we first came to this country in bondage. Many of the freedom fighters at that time, from Harriet Tubman to Nat Turner to Sojourner Truth, and the list of abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass, who established the framework of freedom, our children today are not learning about that particular history. That is much cause for pause. So I hope as Members of Congress rise to the floor of the House to commemorate the African American history here in America that we will also have a consciousness, as we have in the past, and that our voices will be heard that it is unacceptable that the teaching of black history is not on the upsurge, on the rise, but yet on the decline. One of the issues, of course, that we hope will come out of the fact that we are commemorating African American history, is that respectively we will all be challenging our school districts and making an assessment of what children are learning because of the value, the importance, if you will, of learning that kind of history. The idea of freedom also is an early idea, and I want to cite again some of the early freedom fighters, like Harriet Tubman. I have a little silver pin that is an F that stands for freedom. Harriet Tubman was the conductor on the Underground Railroad. She has an enormously important story, and she is an exciting personality because she helped to free any number of escaped slaves. In fact, she escaped in the summer of 1849. This was a time when America sold its soul for a cross of gold, even though William Jennings Bryan didn't make the expression famous for half a century later. True, there were white conductors of the Underground Railroad who gave their lives to see to it that black people were able to trickle out of slavery, but Harriet Tubman took this to heart. She became the general, General Tubman, who guided frightened slaves into freedom in the North. She did this continuously over and over and over again. I have read previously that when a slave was too frightened to go forward, she threatened that slave with his or her life: you die here or you go to freedom. So she was a strong personality that really captured the spirit of African Americans. Through all kinds of trials and tribulations, we have overcome the obstacles that have faced us. We now come upon the 21st century, and we have two important struggles right before us. One of those struggles includes the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and I think it is imperative that we energize the populace, all walks of life, to begin to raise their voices in support of the work of this Congress, the good work of this Congress to move forward and reauthorize the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Then we have, in conclusion, one of the most challenging mountains to climb: to be able to heal and to bring back to normalcy the gulf region. That will be a smear on the pages of America's history in how that community and those communities were treated and how they are being treated. So it will go down in the pages of black history, because as we know, the faces of the individuals being shown during Hurricane Katrina were African Americans. We have challenges to go forward; but as we go forward in our challenges to make their lives better, to pass omnibus bill H.R. 4197, work done by the Congressional Black Caucus to make the Katrina survivors whole with housing, education, the environment, compensation and the right to return, we must do it in the backdrop of the history of a people who never turned away from suffering, never turned away from trials and tribulations, and never turned away from challenges. We have a history to stand upon. It is a history that America should cherish, and we should continue to honor it at the same time that we teach our children. And, frankly, I believe that if we are to embrace the history of all people, we will make America a better place to live. With that, I yield back to the distinguished gentleman.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina. Let me, as well, appreciate the fact, as Mr. Rangel has said, that we have a bipartisan moment. I thank the chairman, Mr. Ney, for his support and leadership. Mr. Rangel, might I acknowledge you for a brilliant stroke of patriotic genius, for you have recognized that those who battled on the forefront of World War II, who may have worn a different skin color, came home not in dishonor, but not with much honor. And so I am very humbled to have been one of the cosponsors to join you in the recognition, collectively, of the numbers of airmen who can claim Tuskegee, Alabama and the Tuskegee Institute as a starting point of them being able to reach their dreams of serving on the front lines in World War II and fighting for their America. As Mr. Rangel said earlier, these individuals suffered in a segregated America and, in fact, were rejected and rebuffed when they asked to join the United States military to sacrifice their lives. But they were persistent, and they got called to be the Tuskegee Airmen and there were personnel sent from Washington to train them. And sometimes they were thinking, why did I get this assignment? But now we are here today to honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal, some 992 black pilots, and then of course, any number of civilians who were likewise engaged. Thirty years after the war was over, you heard nothing about the Tuskegee Airmen. And then, of course, they did the wise thing by establishing the first club. I too have a personal story, because I am proud to say that my father-in-law, Phillip Ferguson Lee, was a Tuskegee Airman; and from the time of my marriage in the early years, what an honor to travel around him or to meet those gentlemen. I was honored to be able to see those gentlemen in their distinguished jackets, senior as they were, but proud and strong. Thank you, Mr. Rangel. Thank you to the Tuskegee Airmen. Thank you, America, for recognizing these battle-worn soldiers. God bless them and God bless America. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1259, ``to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress, collectively, to the Tuskegee Airmen in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.'' On July 19, 1941 the American Air Force created an all black flight training program at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The Tuskegee Airmen were not only unique in their military record, but they inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces, paving the way for integration of the armed services in the U.S. The first class of cadets began in July 1941 with 13 men, all of whom had college degrees, some with PhD's and all had pilot's licenses. From all accounts, the training of the Tuskegee Airmen was an experiment established to prove that ``coloreds'' were incapable of operating expensive and complex combat aircraft. Stationed in the segregated South, the black cadets were denied rifles. The Tuskegee Airmen were credited with 261 aircraft destroyed, 148 aircraft damaged, 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy and North Africa. They destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. ``We proved that the antidote to racism is excellence in performance,'' said retired Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, who started his military career as a pilot and maintenance officer with the Tuskegee Airmen's 99th Fighter Squadron. Clearly, the experiment, as it was called, was an unqualified success. The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded three Presidential Unit Citations, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and Legions of Merit, along with the Red Star of Yugoslavia, nine Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars and more than 700 Air medals and clusters. It goes without question that the Tuskegee Airmen are deserving of the Congressional Gold Medal. I would like to thank Congressman Rangel for his work in bringing this legislation to the floor of Congress, and his efforts in gathering 308 cosigners. This is an important, and long overdue piece of legislation. I ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to give their support to H.R. 1259, authorizing ``the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress, collectively, to the Tuskegee Airmen . . .''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE

Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership in managing this legislation as it comes to the floor, and let me give my appreciation to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Watt for really pinpointing an area that has such vast popularity and recognition and finding in it an opportunity for education and jobs. This partnership between NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, as well as the HBCUs, is close to a partnership longing to be established. This relationship that deals with a sport that has come to be one of the most popular in the United States of America, one that probably has the greatest Sunday afternoon or Saturday afternoon audience of any of our sports, and maybe our sports combined, now can stand as a symbol of opportunity and civil rights. It is a symbol now of a combination of the needs of the NASCAR sports industry, and Historically Black Colleges. How important it is that we discuss and debate this on the last day of commemorating African American History Month. Let me point out what is most exciting about this effort. One, HBCUs are known to be one of the greatest resources for talented African American students and others. In addition, Historically Black Colleges are found mostly in the South, where it is known that the NASCAR effort is most popular, but also the heart of that effort. Of course, it combines education, skills and job opportunity. So this partnership is all that we would ask it to be. We now look to the Department of Education to really engage itself in whatever efforts are necessary to promote, encourage and facilitate this partnership. Let us provide the necessary resources, governmental if at all, necessary to ensure that the partnership continues. Finally, let me say, let me encourage the young people who might be listening to this debate that the opportunity now stands for you to put your internship, full-time jobs, including entry-level management positions, part-time jobs and postgraduate job placement for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at partner HBCUs. The skills would be, of course, the technical aspects of this business, and that is relating to the automotive business activities, including automotive engineering and technology, automotive safety, sports marketing and other automotive industry areas. Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I want to congratulate my colleagues and also say that this is, of course, planting the seeds. I have been discussing with my universities in Texas the idea of looking at sports management to cover the NFL, the NBA, and American baseball. These are important economic engines, and it is certainly a very important step that this resolution, H. Res. 677, is going forward, partnering HBCUs with NASCAR.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my dear friend from Texas, Congressman Hinojosa, and of course, allow me to add my very, very, very sincere congratulations and appreciations to my friend and Representative from El Paso, the Honorable Silvestre Reyes. For those of you who are trying to get your eyes and your ears focused on this debate, let me just remind you of a celebrated movie by the name of ``Glory Road.'' Today, we have the opportunity to celebrate the real deal, the real thing, and that team was known as Texas Western, now known as the University of Texas at El Paso. Just think of 40 years ago, 1966, or 2 years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1 year after the 1965 Voting Rights Act and 3 years after the tragedy of the four little girls in Birmingham. This was a tumultuous time in America's history, and so the idea of a coach, albeit the right idea, to place on the court of a basketball championship game five black boys, young men, to be able to play against the favored team, the University of Kentucky, was in itself a shocking, shocking occurrence. But yet Don Haskins, a courageous or just a wise leader, decided to put his best foot forward, and out of that came the 1966 Texas Western team. Might I congratulate all of the players: Bobby Joe Hill, Orsten Artis, Togo Railey, Willie Worsley, David Palacio, Dick Myers, Harry Flournoy, Louis Baudoin, Nevil Shed, Jerry Armstrong, Willie Cager, and right from the great city of Houston, now the fourth largest city in the Nation, David ``Big Daddy'' Lattin. We are delighted to be able to join my colleagues from Texas to say that we are proud of that measure of civil rights history. We salute certainly the wisdom of Don Haskins, and remind America that sports and the playing field, whether they be courts, or tennis courts, whether they be the NFL playing field or whether they be the baseball field or the soccer field, we know that sports generate character and integrity, but it also develops teamsmanship. So the idea of the youngsters of America today playing on the playing fields of athletic America hopefully will create the new civil rights movement. And as a city that just experienced the All Star Game, I can tell you the whole game of basketball certainly represents diversity as we have our young men, and many of those who have come from foreign lands, but it also is an opportunity for young men and women to work together. I want to congratulate the manager of this bill, Congressman Hinojosa, and congratulate Congressman Reyes, for their wisdom in saluting these young men, and I am delighted to have been an original cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the proposed bill, H. Res. 668, ``Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Texas Western's 1966 National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Championship victory.'' On March 19, 1966, Coach Don Haskins and his Texas Western College Miners advanced to the NCAA Championship game against the segregated, all-White University of Kentucky Wildcats. Coach Haskins made the decision to put in an all-Black starting lineup, something that had never been done before. He made the announcement prior to the game and was thought to be a fool. It was the notion at the time that a team had to have at least one White player on the lineup to have a shot at winning a game, let alone the National Championship. Coach Haskins and his TW Miners shattered that school of thought with their triumphant win against the Wildcats. The victory on the court was not only a victory for the Miners, but a victory for civil rights. When Coach Haskins made the decision to start an all-Black lineup, he did so not to make a statement about racial equality, but in his own words to ``play my five best players. Race didn't matter to me.'' The team's win was much more than simply a win on the basketball court signaling that a change had taken place in collegiate sports. The bold step taken by Don Haskins accelerated the pace that athletic teams were being integrated throughout the South. The team's success did not come without a price. After the win Coach Haskins received over 40,000 hate mail letters, illustrating the climate of hostility towards African Americans in the South during that time. The team's accomplishments both paralleled and contributed to the landmark events being made in the civil rights movement at the time. Basketball historian Neil Isaacs has called it the ``Brown v. Board of Education of college basketball . . . Since that time, no pretender to basketball eminence has ever drawn a color line in its recruiting.'' I am proud to say that one of the most influential players on the team, David Latin, hails from my district of Houston. The massive 6'7" Center, paved the way for the team, scoring 16 points in the title game. As a testament to Latin's skill, he advanced to the NBA as a first-round pick to play for the San Francisco Warriors. The memory of the team and their magnificent 1966 NCAA Championship win has recently been captured in the Disney film ``Glory Road.'' The memory of Coach Haskins has been solidified by his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his remarkable achievements as a coach. As a Member of Congress deeply concerned with advancing the causes of civil liberties and a co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. 59, a bill similar to the one before us, which recognized both the teams and players of African-American basketball teams for their achievement and contribution to basketball and to the Nation prior to the integration of the white professional leagues, I ask my colleagues to join with me in support of H. Res. 668. Today we should rise and honor the memory of both the Texas Western College team and their coach, Don Haskins, who led them to a National Championship, and in doing so advanced the cause of civil rights and decreased segregation in athletics.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2275, to temporarily increase the borrowing authority of Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program NFIP. The National Flood Insurance Program was developed in 1968 in response to private insurers' unwillingness to issue flood insurance to homeowners residing in areas prone to flooding. The program makes available federally subsidized insurance policies for purchase to communities willing to comply with NFIP standards. Those standards include the adoption of floodplain mapping and building regulations. Currently, over 20,000 communities, supporting 4.7 million people, participate in the program. Statistics show that compliance with NFIP guidelines works--Communities in compliance, suffer 80 percent less property damage than that those not in compliance. The act before us today will increase FEMA's borrowing authority for administration of the program from $18.5 billion to $21.2 billion. Two point seven billion dollars may seem like a lot, but it is a necessary step towards prevention, and prevention should be our ultimate goal. It is important remember that the $2.7 billion is not a handout--it must be repaid by profits made from premiums and interest accrued from the loan. Hurricane Katrina opened everyone's eyes to the importance of flood insurance. Flooding is not a problem that just comes around when a hurricane hits, neither is it going to disappear after the damage inflicted on the gulf coast is repaired. Most are unaware that the United States suffers $2 billion of damage annually. In fact, in my home district of Houston, from 1978 to 1995, almost $300 million in flood insurance claims were made. If those facts are not startling enough, consider that the NFIP, the arm of FEMA that makes coverage available to communities in need, is now bankrupt. Even more alarming is the fact that current evidence indicates that the insurance industry has acted irresponsibly, without compassion, and only in the interest of profits. In 2004, the insurance industry had a record year netting $800 billion in policy holder premiums. The insurance industry must realize that they have a responsibility to the public, as well as to generate profits for their companies, and that they must find a way for the two to coexist. A staggering 40 percent of property owners along the gulf coast do not have flood insurance coverage. As we have now been reminded in the wake of Katrina, the absence of coverage creates a difficult situation. The NFIP was created to serve as a safety net to those unable to purchase flood insurance from private companies, and their services are once again in need. The act before us today is an important step in the right direction, but a dramatic change in national policy is the only way we can ensure that the necessary change will take place. I ask my colleagues to rise in support of S. 2275.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker and my fellow Representatives, we have before us a resolution that, in its brevity, expresses the apprehension, concern, and resoluteness of our country in response to the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections 3 weeks ago. I stand here to support the sense of Congress that an organization that does not recognize the right of another sovereign state to exist should not be the recipient of our aid. I have grave reservations about this resolution, however. Rather than pressure Hamas to recognize Israel, we may instead add more fire to the hostilities and prematurely halt the peace process by asserting this punitive resolution. I hope that the Palestinian Authority will engage in diplomatic relations and come to an understanding that is satisfactory to all involved. The violence and suicide bombings are still present in our minds, and our objective is to never have to witness events such as these again. But I also know that the Palestinian people need our help desperately. They are vulnerable. They need food, shelter, warmth, sanitation, medicine, schools. But they also need safety, protection, confidence, and a reason to believe that they may someday witness and achieve stability and peace. By joining in the sense of Congress today and refusing aid to a government that does not recognize Israel, we cannot forget the Palestinian people, who still urgently need our humanitarian aid. Some may say that the majority voted for a historically terrorist political party. But the picture is never as simple as it seems on the surface--Palestinians had a choice between corruption and terrorism. They have seen the wasted resources and the ineffectiveness. They voiced their disgust in their leadership by democratically voting them out of office. The elections were a success in that regard--campaigning was energetic and nonviolent, and the election turnout was beyond expectations. They chose to replace the party in power with an alternative that promised more solidity, more leadership, and more hope for the future. I do, however, implore that Hamas recognize the state of Israel and renounce violence. We can help them achieve many great things, including their own sovereign state. I hope that they will take us up on our offer. Israel has found a way to exist as both a religious state and as an international diplomatic partner while protecting its own interests. Many Arab states have also tried this with varying degrees of success. Hamas needs to understand that you can run your country holding religious values close, while participating in a secular process that will give you what you seek. Daily, we see reports that Hamas refuses to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Although we understand the anger, we've been shocked and dismayed at the violence in the Islamic community as a result of the publication of offensive cartoons. Unfortunately these images are present in our minds as we consider our relationship with the Middle East. I strongly urge Hamas to reassess its tactics and its position in relation to its goals, as well as reassess how best it can serve its people in its new position of government leadership. I know that your religion values human life. Prove it by protecting your people, and assuming the authority you have democratically earned by recognizing Israel's right to exist, just as you assert your right to exist. The Israeli national anthem is entitled ``The Hope,'' and it expresses an optimistic, yet sober understanding of what is needed to attain peace. Today, as a Member of Congress, I will join my colleagues in telling the Palestinian Authority that it must step onto the international diplomatic arena with honesty, openness, and a willingness to compromise. I still believe that a State of Palestine and a State of Israel will someday be able to coexist in peace, but in order for that to happen, both must acknowledge one another.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to follow my colleague from Tennessee to talk about the bad behavior of vice presidents. Let me first of all say that when you are a civilian, you are a civilian. But I rise today to express my deepest disappointment in the behavior of the Vice President of the United States of America. A man was injured on the soil of Texas; and, lo and behold, it took us 20 hours before the American people and the President of the United States could have one iota of information. I wish the attorney in Texas best wishes and good health, but I want to say to the Vice President of the United States that the inherent powers of the presidency do not inure to you, where you are allowed to travel secretly on Air Force II, to not allow the press to follow you as any public servant would have and to hide and cover up a drastic and tragic incident that occurred in the United States of America or anywhere around the world. I believe the Vice President should own up to what occurred. I understand he made some remarks today, a little too short and a little too delayed. I believe we have seen again a cover-up of this administration, and the Vice President is the chief cover-upper of the United States of America. Mr. Vice President, you, too, are subject to the laws of the United States of America.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4745, but not without reservations. During the last 5 months the Small Business Administration has issued $4.12 billion in disaster assistance loans to homeowners and businesses in declared disaster areas, processing 214,000 applications. It has approved approximately $1 billion in loans to businesses surviving the destructive attacks by hurricanes in 2005. On the surface it would appear that the SBA is performing well. However, upon closer inspection, reports indicate, that in Louisiana, the roughly 185,000 applications made on behalf of homeowners, a shocking 60,000 were denied. The SBA is distributing a large amount of aid, but that aid is not reaching all of those in serious need. This is evident by the House Minority Small Business Committee's statement that 80% of overall disaster loans have been denied. I bring these statistics to the forefront of my argument not to completely admonish the agency, but to make the point that if we are to appropriate more funds, they must be better distributed. The administration's low interest rates on loans are necessary for the reconstruction of the economy in Gulf Coast region, and vital if any sense of stability is to be achieved. The denied applicants often have no other sources of loans, unable to secure the necessary credit. The interest rates are of particular importance and have increasingly been coming under attack. The Bush administration has announced that as part of its 2007 budget proposal that it would require recipients of loans to pay higher interest rates after five years. The SBA may be approving loans at an unprecedented rate, but it is failing to sufficiently respond to the situation. The destruction caused by the hurricanes occurred on an enormous scale, which is why more funds should be appropriated to the organization only on the condition that it make better use of those funds. The administration is doing a disservice to potential recipients of aid by denying them the resources that should be made available to them. In the wake of these wide-scale disasters, we should not be cutting funds, but rather focusing on better and wider-reaching distribution of those funds and the waiving of restrictive regulations that prevent help going to deserving Katrina and Rita survivors to bring relief to those in need. I urge my colleagues to support the appropriation of additional funds to the SBA, but with confidence that in the future the SBA can make the necessary changes to ensure the widest distribution of loans.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 322, recognizing the importance of the United Service Organization's (USO) many contributions and to their vital role in the betterment of the lives of our servicemen and women.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that, while Rome burns, the administration spends its days pointing fingers at each other. As the continuing disaster in the Gulf region continues to burn and to fuel its own fire, we now have administration officials, both ex and those who are still in office, raising the question of who knew what when, while those of us in the Gulf region, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, are continuing to contend with the tragedy of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In fact, there are 44 States around the Nation where Katrina survivors languish without opportunities to return home. Rather than the administration having real concrete solutions, such as the right of return to the region, where FEMA provides a return ticket to all those families who are desiring to come and be reunited with their family members or to come home, there is no answer at the end. Rather than offering non-concrete solutions, solutions that are just whitewashing, of course, the administration protects its own. They protect Secretary Chertoff, who for one was not in charge, not because former FEMA Director Brown said so, but because I know so. Because within 2 days of the storm, I dialed, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Secretary Chertoff's number over and over again. As someone familiar with the region, I understood that disaster was at hand. You could not get one return phone call from the Secretary to a member of the Homeland Security Committee. It might be that I was a Democrat and therefore did not count. But thousands upon thousands of people were being sent to their death if they could not get any additional help. We lost 1,000-plus. There are 4,000 still missing, and there has been no definitive response from this administration. Testimony of former FEMA Director Brown in the last 48 hours has indicated that this administration, along with the President of the United States, well knew that the levees were spilling over. They knew how catastrophic the storm was going to be 48 hours out, and it was sufficient time for this administration to call for military resources and other resources. We know that there were deployed military vessels off the coast that could have provided for evacuation of thousands upon thousands of individuals. We also know that no response was given. In fact, according to the testimony, under oath I understand, of former Director Brown, one of the staff persons of the FEMA office flew over the levees and saw them spilling over. The irony of all this the response was ``we didn't know whether it was just a leak or whether or not the levees had broken.'' My friends, there are those who can drown in a teaspoon of water. The fact that the water was spilling over was enough reason for them to act. What about the aftermath? What about the fact that now in Hope, Arkansas, isn't it interesting, quite funny, if you will, hope, hope and dreams of Americans, in Hope, Arkansas, 10,000, 10,000 mobile homes are now languishing in disaster. $431 million was spent for these mobile homes that are now sitting there, the wrong size, sinking in the mud. And now, in addition, adding insult to injury, the $431 million, which no one knows whether there was any bid criteria, any criteria whatsoever for the purchase of these particular mobile homes, was there any bidding, was this a no-bid contract, was this another waste of money from the taxpayers, by FEMA, these homes are now languishing in Hope, Arkansas, as indicated by our colleague from Arkansas, languishing there, not being able to be utilized by the thousands who, one, want to come home and, two, are in the region. Mr. Speaker, it is both a crime and it is a shame. As I said earlier, Rome is burning. The administration was at fault, Secretary Chertoff was at fault, as were all of those who sat and did nothing while people died. It is imperative that we not whitewash the House of Representatives report, that we have a full 9/11 inquiry report and that we immediately address the question of removing FEMA from the Homeland Security Department and making it a full, free-standing department. Unlike Mr. Brown, I am not interested in pitting natural disasters against man-made disasters. 9/11 stands as a horrific disaster in the history of America. What I am looking forward to is that they stand equal in the eyes of this administration, equal in the eyes of resources, equal in the eyes of Americans being able to count when they are in need that there will be the Federal Government to provide them with resources, to provide them with assistance. All of this name calling and finger pointing and who was in charge and who was not gives no comfort to those who are still suffering, such as Alvin, who is not getting any money for rebuilding his house. Mr. Speaker, I believe Mr. Chertoff should be held accountable and, if necessary, should resign; and, likewise, FEMA should be moved out into an independent, free-standing department.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 629, supporting the goals and ideals of a Day of Hearts, Congenital Heart Defect Day in order to increase awareness about congenital heart defects. I think it's fitting that on Valentine's Day, we can discuss a resolution that will help protect our hearts. Heart disease can affect every aspect of your life: your ability to work, your ability to get adequate insurance, your ability to exercise or play sports, and your ability to have children, not to mention your ability to enjoy your life and live it to the fullest. Estimates suggest that about 1 million Americans have a congenital heart defect. If time in the hospital and recuperating from heart conditions could be measured in years of life, over 91,000 life years are lost each year in the US due to congenital heart disease. For inpatient surgery alone, charges for care exceed $2.2 billion every year. Even our most vulnerable and innocent citizens are not exempt from the risk of heart disease: around 35,000 babies are born with a heart defect each year. Out of 1,000 births, 8 babies will have some form of congenital heart disorder, although for the most part, these are mild. Severe heart disease generally becomes apparent during the first couple of months after birth. Doctors know to watch for certain clues, including when babies are born blue, have very low blood pressure, breathing difficulties, feeding problems, or poor weight gain. In addition, most minor defects are diagnosed on a routine medical check up. We've made significant improvements in the treatment of congenital heart conditions, from preventive treatment, to surgery, to research, to education and outreach. In the 1960s and 1970s the risk of dying following congenital heart surgery was about 30 percent and today it is around 5 percent. However, recent statistics show that heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of American women, and heart failure is on the rise in the elderly. This bill is relevant and timely, and a noble effort to bring much needed awareness and crucial outreach to men, women and children across the Nation. Knowledge can make all the difference in quality of life, and a Day of Hearts is the perfect way to start the conversation and spread the word.