Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the gentlelady from Florida and the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding and their indulgence. Mr. Speaker, I am rising to first of all take my hat off to Congressman Patrick Kennedy. This is a day in waiting, for he has worked without tiring in the tradition of my good friend, Senator Paul Wellstone, now deceased, who worked and committed themselves to changing the inequity, really, I would think, constitutionally wrong, to disallow mental health parity and those who suffered from mental health issues. All of our family members, or all of our families, have faced these crises. We ask the question, what do we do? That is why I am so disappointed that we have taken the work of Patrick Kennedy and imploded it. We have dissolved the bipartisan allegiance to this bill, the commitment to mental health parity, by destroying hospitals in our districts, hospitals that are serving the poor of our districts. Why they would think that this was an important element of this bill, I don't know. And that is, of course, to end the growth of physician- owned hospitals in urban and rural areas for poor and those who are without access to hospitals. This would restrict the ability and capacity of physician-owned hospitals. It doesn't matter if the hospital is rural or in the inner city, big or small. It punishes these hospitals. In Houston, in the 18th Congressional District, it punishes St. Joseph's, it punishes the Heights Hospital, and it does so without any reason. We could pay for this by the tax cuts that we are taking away from those making over $250,000, or the tax cuts on the energy company. But why are you breaking the backs of those who clearly need an opportunity? This bill should include a robust State license emergency care with doctors on call at all times to care for patients. That is what these hospitals need to have. Maintain a minimum number of physicians available at all times to provide service and provide charity care equal to at least 4 percent of its operating budget. We can put criteria on these hospitals. We don't have to destroy them. I am saddened by what we have done to this bill. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 1013 Expressing the sense of the Congress that providing breakfast in schools through the National School Breakfast Program has a positive impact on classroom performance. Research shows that eating breakfast affects a child's overall performance during school. A nutritious breakfast provides students with the energy needed to start the day. Students who eat breakfast before school do not face hunger symptoms such as headache, fatigue, sleepiness and restlessness. In turn eating breakfast helps students to think faster when doing school work and respond more clearly to teacher questions. A good balanced breakfast has been linked to causing an increase in mental performance, helping to keep students from ``drifting'' during class, causing them to be calmer and less anxious. Those are things that are important for success in class. Studies also show that eating a solid breakfast is a major way to fight child obesity. Because this is an easy way to fight obesity breakfast helps not only in the area of health but in academics as well. It is hard for our children to have their minds on school when their stomachs are empty. Because of this reason and the important link between adequate nourishment and educational performance I stand in support of H. Con. Res. 10l3.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1007, expressing the condolences of the House to those affected by the devastating shooting incident of February 14, 2008 at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. The shootings at Northern Illinois University, on Thursday, February 14, reminded us once again that the wrath of violence can easily destroy the lives of many students seeking education. On that day, a gunman took the lives of 5 students and wounded 17 more. My deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the community of students, teachers, and staff. This reaffirms the steps we must take as public officials to ensure that schools, colleges, and universities in the United States are a safe and secure environment for learning. We must take a hard look at gun regulation. We must regulate the process by which civilians are able to obtain firearms for the sake of protecting those who may be victims of senseless crimes. Americans must stop apologizing and actually do something about the problem. We must stop denying that problems like this will never happen in our communities. A system of educating students and parents about gun safety should be paralleled with education systems by providing students with councelors, or spiritual advisors. I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were killed in the tragic shooting: Gayle Dubpwski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace, and Daniel Parameter. As citizens of the United States, we offer support to the victims' families with prayer and hope for a speedy recovery to those who were wounded. I commend the emergency responders, law enforcement officers, health care providers, and counselors who performed their duties with professionalism and dedication in response to the tragedy. The Northern Illinois University Community must be determined to move `forward, together forward', in the words of the Huskie fight song, and persevere through this tragedy. Indeed they must trod with heavy hearts but unbroken spirits. I cannot begin to understand how the actions of something so terrible could occur in one of our institutions of higher learning. Our Nation continues to grapple with this horrific event. We can never completely understand why these things happen. I realize that no words can heal the wounds of February 14, 2008 for the NIU family, but I extend my arms as a Member of the United States Congress in offering all of my prayers, support, and hugs for your family during this difficult time. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 1084, the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian H.R. Management Act of 2008, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative Farr. This important legislation will amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 in order to build operational readiness for civilian agencies. Since the end of the cold war, the United States has consistently been engaged in stabilization or reconstruction operation at the average interval of once every 18 to 24 months. However, despite the United States' ever increasing stabilization efforts around the world, U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID), the most significant dipolmatic and development organ of the United States Government, has been substantially weakened due to staff cuts, hiring freezes, and consolidation. This is absolutely unacceptable. In a time where the U.S. has mounted a global war on terror, arguably destabilizing more regions than not, it is imperative that American diplomatic missions reflect American global involvement. This important legislation authorizes the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of USAID, to establish a Response Readiness Corps to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or those with expertise in engineering, agricultural development, rule of law, and civil administration required for the complex stabilization missions of today are simply not there. At a time regions that are at risk, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife (up to 250 personnel to serve in the Corps, and such other personnel as the Secretary may designate from the Department and USAID). I have said time and time again that what the United States needs is a new diplomatic offensive, a diplomatic surge. That being said, there are only 6,600 professional Foreign Service officers today in the State Department. According to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the number of professional Foreign Service officers is less than the personnel of one carrier battle group. In a time when the United States is engaged in two massive stabilization and reconstruction efforts and countless other emergencies, USAID has less than 1,000 Foreign Service officers, as opposed to during the height of the Cold War when there were more than 4,500 Foreign Service officers. In essence, we have created a situation where those with expertise in engineering, agricultural development, rule of law, and civil administration required for the complex stabilization missions of today are simply not there. At a time when we need to call on this expertise the most, the U.S. Government capacity for these skills is at its weakest. This legislation seeks to alleviate some of this total lack of diplomatic and developmental capacity. The aim of this bill is to successfully address upcoming threats and prosecute the long-term fight against terror by fortifying the United States Government's civilian capacity to deal with instability, particularly in areas where terrorist and terrorism thrive. This legislation will authorize the Secretary to establish a Readiness Response Corps in order to alleviate the gap in civilian capacity. This Corps will include active, as well as standby, components composed of Federal employees. Furthermore, it includes a reserve component consisting of civilian experts from State and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations. The current American diplomatic and developmental strategy simply does not sufficiently meet the needs of today's world. This bill will amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to transfer or reprogram up to $100 million in any given fiscal year for the purposes of furnishing assistance and permitting the export of goods and services to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. It also amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 in order to establish within the Department of State an absolutely essential Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. I strongly support this legislation that will ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing the State Department to deploy civilians in crisis situations previously staffed by the military. Our men and woman in uniform have accomplished what we asked them to do and it is time that the U.S. Government responsibly and appropriately addresses the stabilization and reconstruction situations that persist, despite our inaction, throughout the world. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this extremely important and timely piece of legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H. Con. Res. 292, as offered by my distinguished colleague from Missouri, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. This resolution recognizes and honors the lifetime accomplishments of Margaret Truman Daniel. Margaret Truman Daniel, a singer and an author, was the one and only child of the late President Harry S Truman. Margaret Truman Daniel deserves no better tribute than that of being honored by members of the United States Congress. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was born on February 17, 1924, in Independence, Missouri. When Margaret Daniel Truman was 16 years old, she began taking voice lessons in Independence, Missouri, from Mrs. Thomas J. Strickler, a family friend. Mrs. Daniel graduated from George Washington University in 1946 and received a bachelor of arts degree in history. Her father. President Harry S Truman, took office one year before on April 12, 1945, gave her commencement address, and presented her with her diploma. She made her first outdoor appearance as a singer on August 23, 1947 at the Hollywood Bowl before a crowd of approximately 20,000 people with Eugene Ormandy conducting the orchestra. She later had her first concert on October 17, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel married Clifton Daniel on April 21, 1956, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri. They had four children; Clifton Truman, born June 5, 1957; William Wallace, born May 19, 1959 (died September 4, 2000); Harrison Gates, born March 3, 1963; and Thomas Washington, born May 28, 1966. The Daniels' family has five grandchildren. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was the author of 23 novels, non-fiction and fiction, including two biographies on her parents' lives. The biographies, Harry S Truman (1972) and Bess W. Truman (1986), described the lives of the former President and former First Lady from the perspective of their only daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel. After her father's death in 1972, Mrs. Daniel worked as an advocate for presidential libraries. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel died in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 83 on January 29, 2008. It is not often in American history where the nation has the opportunity to witness the only child of a President of the United States become a singer and a novelist. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was widely known for these accomplishments but to many Americans she was so much more. She deserves to be honored today by our Nation. Today, I seek to offer my condolences for her death, and also recognize her lifetime accomplishments. For these reasons, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 292 and urge all Members to do the same. Mr. Davis of Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 286 recognizing and honoring Earl Lloyd, the first African- American to play in the National Basketball Association. Earl Lloyd was born April 3, 1928, in Alexandria, Virginia. It was at the city of Alexandria's segregated Parker-Gray High School that Lloyd began to develop his passion and skills for basketball. He began his collegiate career playing at West Virginia State College, a historically black college at the time. Before entering the NBA, Earl Lloyd earned titles for All-Conference and All-American for his tremendous basketball skills. On October 31, 1950, Earl Lloyd integrated the NBA. Three years prior to Lloyd's integration of the NBA, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball in 1947. Jackie Robinson has received national iconic status for breaking baseball's color barrier, yet Earl Lloyd has been overlooked for breaking that same barrier in basketball. Lloyd once said, ``In 1950 basketball was like a babe in the woods, it didn't enjoy the notoriety that baseball enjoyed.'' It is now 2008 and the NBA is long out of the woods and the time is long overdue for us to recognize and honor one of its pathfinders, Earl Lloyd. He is responsible for lighting that path and since then many great African-Americans have traveled the road paved by Earl Lloyd. Earl Lloyd's journey was beset with people yelling cruel and derogatory words. He used their insults to fuel his passion to excel. He proved that African-Americans could successfully enter into the National Basketball Association. He should continue to be a source of inspiration to all and for this reason he should be commemorated. This accomplishment must be saluted as Mr. Lloyd's life serves as an inspiration to many, both athletes and non-athletes.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 944, honoring the service and accomplishments of Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore United States Army, for his 37 years of service on behalf of the United States. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague Congressman David Scott for introducing this important legislation, of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Katrina was one of the darkest hours of our Nation's recent history. Although the courage and generosity demonstrated by the American people was nothing short of heroic, the response of the federal government, especially FEMA, was nothing short of an embarrassment. I never imagined that my neighbors in New Orleans would be called and treated like refugees in war ravaged developed countries. The response of the Bush Administration was unacceptable. However, even in the midst of tragedy and mismanagement, many Americans throughout this country stepped up to help those affected by this disaster. This demonstrated that once again in our darkest hour that we united as a nation to help our brothers and sisters who sought to recover and rebuild their lives. In particular, a small number of extraordinary individuals became true heroes; one of the most remarkable was Lieutenant General Russel Honore. Called by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin a man who can ``get some stuff done,'' Lieutenant General Honore's life is truly an American story. Born in Lakeland, Louisiana, General Honore graduated from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After graduating with a baccalaureate degree in vocational agriculture, General Honore was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. General Honore eventually graduated from Troy State University with a master's degree in Human Resources and received an honorary doctorate in public administration from Southern University and A&M College. General Honore began his distinguished military career serving in a number of infantry command positions for the Army, including overseas tours in Germany and as a commanding officer in the Second Infantry Division in Korea. He saw action in Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Honore's experience and skill made him a logical candidate to serve as vice director for operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff; deputy commanding general and assistant commandant of the United States Army Infantry Center and School at Fort Benning, Georgia; and assistant division commander, maneuver/support for the First Calvary Division at Fort Hood, Texas. But more than his impressive record of military service, Lt. General Russel Honore is perhaps best known for his strong leadership attributes. Lieutenant General Honore commanded the First United States Army, responsible for the training and deployment of 500,000 National Guardsmen and reserve service members. Lieutenant General Honore also led the Joint Task Force Katrina, following the hurricane's destruction of the Gulf Coast in 2005, where he commanded all active-duty troops from all military branches dedicated to the storm recovery operations. Mr. Speaker, my home district in Houston has been pleased to welcome with open arms well over 100,000 survivors fleeing the storm, including a reported 21,000 children. I spent countless hours after this immense tragedy with the men, women, and children who fell victim to this catastrophic storm; I witnessed first hand the terror and despair of children separated from their parents, men and women who had lost their entire livelihoods, and families who had seen homes full of memories and treasures destroyed in flood waters. I represent thousands of the Katrina evacuees who continue to reside in Houston, I consider their plight and hardship a personal one with which I am intimately familiar, and I am proud of my community's response to this tragedy. In the hours, days, weeks, and months after the Katrina struck the gulf coast, the actions of Lt. General Honore and those like him were a lifeline for thousands of displaced, frightened, and imperiled residents. His bravery was so often the difference between life and death, or between hope and despair. Those of us who were on the ground in those days and weeks following the storm know just how valuable his actions were, just how vital his leadership was, and just how much the region needed many more leaders like him. I would like to commend Lieutenant General Honore for his 37 years of service on behalf of the United States. Lieutenant General Honore has proven his dedication and commitment to the Army and his leadership in post-Katrina recovery effort. I recognize his loyalty as a soldier, commander, and leader and for displaying throughout his distinguished military service the highest levels of leadership, professional competence, integrity, courage. Many of those who survived this storm did so only because of the bravery, selflessness, and immense leadership of Lt. General Honore and other heroes like him. Over two years have passed since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, and we continue to mourn the at least 1,836 innocent victims of the storm. We also continue to address the difficult issues raised by the storm, including the rebuilding of affordable housing in the area, and the restoration of local education systems. As a proud Houstonian, a firsthand witness to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and a believer in the power of the American people, as demonstrated by Lt. General Honore, I strongly urge my colleagues to remember those who perished, honor those who found such bravery within themselves, and to continue to work to provide for the still-suffering victims of the storm. In a recent media interview, Lt. General Honore spoke of what he hoped his legacy would be. He spoke of an effort to guide civilian America, encouraging a ``culture of preparedness'' in the spirit of his own cold-war upbringing. He stated that despite government investment in disaster response mechanisms, civic response remains weak, stating, ``I'm sure you and your wife have a plan to meet at Uncle Joe's house, but does your plan include asking Mrs. Smith next door if she needs a ride?'' This is a vital, and too often overlooked, component of disaster planning. Mr. Speaker, I would again like to voice my support for H.R. 944, and finally give back something to a man that has already given so much to his country.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 930, supporting the goals and ideas of Career and Technical Education Month, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Washington, Representative Baird. This important piece of legislation expands the pathways to social and economic mobility, for more people in this country. Career and technical education is a substantial enterprise in this country. Thousands of comprehensive high schools, vocational and technical high schools, area vocational centers, and community colleges offer career and technical education programs. Virtually every high school student takes at least one career and technical education course, and one in four students takes three or more courses in a single program area. One-third of college students are involved in career and technical programs, and as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary occupational training. Eighty-five years after the passage of the first piece of Federal vocational education legislation, career and technical education is evolving from its original and sole focus on preparing students for work immediately following high school. Today's career and technical education programs increasingly incorporate rigorous and challenging academic content standards and provide a nonduplicative sequence of courses leading to an industry-recognized credential or certificate, or an associate or bachelor's degree. In my district, we have several vocational and technical schools and programs such as the Bradford School, ITT Technical Institute, Everest Institute, Remington College at Houston, and American Intercontinental University in Houston. Each of these schools and programs is committed to providing the skills and technical knowledge necessary for entry- level employment positions in business and industry. Career and technical education is about helping students, workers, and lifelong learners of all ages fulfill their working potential. First and foremost it's about high school and college education that provides students with: (1) academic subject matter taught with relevance to the real world, often called contextual learning, (2) second-chance education and training for the unemployed and those seeking to upgrade their employability skills, and (3) corporate training, continuing education, skills upgrades and refresher courses for those already in the workplace. I join Congressman Baird in raising awareness about the increased need for career and tech programs that will better prepare and train America's growing workforce. I have long supported education initiatives that not only seek to educate, but to also inspire entrepreneurship. I support this legislation and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of House Resolution 978, designating March 3-7, 2008, as ``School Social Work Week'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Rhode Island, Representative Patrick Kennedy. This important legislation recognizes and celebrates the many contributions of school social workers in our schools, communities, and government agencies. Social work is a relatively young profession with roots in the social reform movements, self-help societies, and social service organizations which formed in the latter half of the 19th century to provide assistance to the needy and oppressed. Today, social workers are committed to serving culturally diverse populations and the oppressed, promoting social justice, providing leadership in social policy formulation and implementation, and advancing the knowledge base of the profession. School social work is a specialized area of practice within the broad field of the social work profession that works directly with children, families, schools, and the community at-large. School social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the school system and the student services team. School social workers enhance the school district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving that mission. The position of school social workers in local school systems has grown rapidly in the last few years. As schools look at preparing students both academically and socially, the role of the professionals working with students has expanded. Effective school social work services contribute not only to a healthy school environment, but benefit society as a whole. They provide crisis intervention, counseling services, and support; they link students and families with school and community resources; and they work with all school personnel to help students succeed. Working one-on-one with a student or designing group activities that reinforce successful learning skills, school social workers create a team environment where everyone works for the betterment of their students. Student success is heightened when families, teachers, and school social workers work collaboratively to provide positive school- home communication. Earlier this month, Texas held its Seventeenth Annual School of Social Work Conference. The Texas School Social Worker of the Year Award went to James Montoya of Nacogdoches Independent School District. Mr. Montoya has been a social worker for over 30 years, with the last 8 as a school social worker. For the past 5 years, he has produced and hosted a local television show, ``La Conexion Hispana.'' This production highlights resources in the community, features school personnel and Hispanic leaders who model and encourage students to stay in school, and provides Mr. Montoya with an opportunity to reach out and ``touch'' many families throughout the region. He is the first social worker to serve in this capacity and this is the first Spanish program of its kind to be offered in the region. In August 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Montoya was instrumental in registering over 800 displaced students into the school district. His efforts included working in the shelters and providing translation services to those in need. I would like to congratulate him and the many school social workers like him, for all the work they have done and continue to do for our children, our communities, and our country. As a member of the Children's Caucus, I am proud to support House Resolution 978 and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues of the Judiciary Committee, and I thank my colleagues of the Rules Committee. Madam Speaker, I stand on this floor with a very heavy heart. It is a heavy heart compounded by the fact that Harriet Miers is my friend. We practiced law together in the State of Texas. We worked together. And so it is very difficult to stand here today and to acknowledge what is an enormous crisis in our Government, and that is the lack of recognition of the constitutional premise of the three equal branches of Government. I came yesterday to talk of the embeddedness of the Constitution not only in many books but also in the hearts of Americans. When I go home to Texas, people still ask the question: What are you doing about the U.S. attorney situation? What happened to the fairness and integrity of the appointment process? The American people want to know. We are now doing their bidding. They want us to be able to clear the air. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, let me tell you, John Conyers has the patience of Job. Over and over again, and Chairwoman Sanchez, over and over again, working with Ranking Member Cannon, said that we wanted to do this in a way that you could come and give information, that information could be transcripted. We will then try to find out the truth. We come here with a broken heart, a humble spirit, but with the Constitution deeply embedded in our heart, recognizing that there is nothing to protect if the President says that he is not involved. Let the Constitution stand. Let us do what we are supposed to do. My friends, vote for this in a bipartisan way so that the Constitution remains sacred in our hearts and in this country. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 982, which provides that upon adoption of the rule, both H. Res. 979 recommending that the House of Representatives find former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten in contempt of Congress for their refusal to comply with subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary and H. Res. 980--Authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas are adopted. Both of the resolutions were introduced by my distinguished colleague from Michigan, the Honorable John Conyers, Jr. H. Res. 979 This resolution highlights the accountability issues that this body has continued to have with the Bush administration. This committee made attempt after attempt to secure critical information voluntarily from both former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten. At no point did they cooperate and comply with our requests. Even as this committee directed their appearance by subpoena, the White House sought to avert our inquiries by citing executive privilege. Instead, the White House offered this committee a very limited inquiry, completely controlled by providing: (1) virtually no access to internal White House documents, (2) no questioning regarding internal White House discussions, and (3) no interview transcripts. The White House is not bluffing with this act of defiance. Rather, it seems the Bush administration wants to test, and attempt to expand, the limits of presidential power. Madam Speaker, it was on July 12, 2007 that Ms. Harriet Miers was asked to testify before the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law investigating the removal of U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration, and did not attend. That same day, the subcommittee's Chair, the Honorable Linda Sanchez, undertook the preliminary steps necessary to declare Miers in contempt. The subcommittee voted 7-5 that there was no legal justification for Ms. Miers's failing to appear pursuant to the subpoena. Notwithstanding this blatant affront to the House Judiciary Committee, Republican Members allowed party affiliation to trump institutional responsibility, just as they had when they controlled Congress. The Minority continues to make excuses for the Bush administration's defiance, and appears content to let the President slight the subcommittee by instructing both Ms. Miers and Mr. Bolten to not testify. H. Res. 980 and CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT Congresssional oversight is an implied rather than an enumerated power. My colleagues across the aisle may make the argument that nothing explicitly grants this body the authority to conduct inquiries or investigations of the Executive, to have access to records or materials held by the Executive, or to issue subpoenas for documents or testimony from the Executive. However, congressional investigations sustain and vindicate our role in our constitutional scheme of separated powers. The rich history of congressional investigations from the failed St. Clair expedition in 1792 through Teapot Dome, Watergate, and Iran-Contra, has established, in law and practice, the nature and contours of congressional prerogatives necessary to maintain the integrity of the legislative role. Numerous Supreme Court precedents recognize a broad and encompassing power in this body to engage in oversight and investigation that would reach all sources of information necessary for carrying out its legislative function. Without a countervailing constitutional privilege or this body self-imposing a statutory restriction on our authority, this chamber, along with our colleagues in the Senate, have plenary power to compel information needed to discharge our legislative functions from the Executive, private individuals, and companies. In McGrain v. Daugherty, 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed the power of inquiry, with the accompanying process to enforce it, ``an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function.'' Senate Rule XXVI, 26, and House Rule XI, 11, presently empower all standing committees and subcommittees to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents. This chamber was given an implied power of oversight by the U.S. Constitution; that power has supported by our 3rd branch of government, the Supreme Court; we ourselves have expressed this authority in our Senate and House Rules, and yet two attorneys under the direction of the White House continue to tell us we do not have the proper authority. H.R. 5230, Contempt of the House of Representatives Subpoena Authority Act of 2008 [110th] On February 6, I introduced legislation that would amend Title 28, of the United States Code and grant this chamber the statutory authority to bring a civil action to enforce and secure a declaratory judgment to prevent a threatened refusal or failure to comply with any subpoena or order for the production of documents, the answering of any deposition or interrogatory, or the securing of testimony issued by the House or any of its committees or subcommittees. Once we pass H.R. 5230, we should have no further need to adopt resolutions for authorization to enforce certain subpoenas; we would already hold that statutory authority. As it stands now, we must collectively support both H. Res. 979 and H. Res. 980 under H. Res. 982, the adopted rule. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 982 an important piece of legislation that allows for not only accountability but enforcement.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and I want to personally thank him for the extensive work we have done to secure America and as well to protect the civil liberties of all Americans. I hold in my hand the Constitution of the United States embedded in this book. When you think of the term ``embedded,'' you think of the concerns regarding the Iraq war. You think of the concerns of terrorism. You might even think of the concerns of embedded press who have been able to travel with our soldiers. But in this instance, I am saying that deeply embedded in the hearts of Americans is a concept of the Constitution that protects their civil liberties. I think it is important to note that in fact a bill has been passed so many months ago. And I will not argue about the integrity of this place, for many have raised that question, that we should have the privilege of reviewing the legislation of the Senate, and that privilege is necessary. But I think there is a larger argument, more expanded argument, and it must be clarified that we have not dillydallied. We have not delayed. We have, in fact, been meticulous in making sure that we have balanced a new FISA law, updating it, and also providing that protection, that firewall for Americans. How many of you would have known that initially the administration came to us and suggested that while they are surveilling someone on foreign soil, if it kicks back to an American, your grandmother, your aunt, your uncle, yourself, because it kicks back in a sense that we are talking to someone on foreign soil but you happen to be on the other side of the phone, that that was okay? But I offered an amendment, and that amendment is in the bill that the House passed, that we cannot tolerate reverse targeting; you must get a warrant. There must be an intervention, and I am glad to say it is in the Senate bill. Yet there is a major question that the Senate bill has not addressed, and it is the fact that many, many people's rights were violated in the course of the old law when the government went straight to the private sector and told them you have to do this and so many persons who were innocent were violated by surveillance. Now these companies, of which I have great respect, I believe they are part of the economic engine of this Nation, want us to interfere in the legal system, for many of these companies are now being sued retroactively, if you will, or being addressed for the grievance they did against an American citizen. Who are we to stop the normal legal process? If one of these corporations has a defensible defense, the judges will rule for them. If they were following the law or they have a defense or were relying upon representations made by officials of the Federal Government, I can assure you that a court of law will give them their relief. Why are we interfering where citizens of the American society believe that this Constitution and their rights have been violated? So to my friends who want to provide a scare tactic, let me say to you all this legislation does today is to ensure you will be safe by extending the existing law. Hopefully we put notice on corporations that they should not be violating the civil liberties of Americans, and clearly I will tell you, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, that none of us stand in this well to jeopardize the safety and security of the American people. Let us dispense with that myth altogether. What is important is that when we finally design a bill that is going to be entrenched in law, it must be in compliance with the Constitution that is embedded in this bill. It is not today. I ask my colleagues to enthusiastically vote for the extension because I believe in security and the rights of all Americans.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5349, to extend the Protect America Act of 2007 for 21 days. Let me be clear that while I do not support legislation that grants legal immunity to telecommunications companies that provide information to Federal investigators without a warrant, I recognize that the current legislation is set to expire this Saturday, February 16th. Although I do not support the Protect America Act, we need more time to work with our colleagues in the Senate on the substance of this legislation in order to ensure that we reconcile the Senate language with the RESTORE Act (H.R. 3773), which we passed in the House on November 15, 2007. I would like to thank my Senate colleague Senator Feingold, from Wisconsin, for his diligent work in trying to amend this legislation to protect American civil liberties, both at home and abroad. Homeland security is not a Democratic or a Republican issue, it is not a House or Senate issue; it is an issue for all Americans--all of us. The original legislation offered by the House Majority gave the Administration everything that they needed, but what the Senate is proposing virtually throws our Bill of Rights out the window, because they are telling Americans that no matter what your business is, you are subject to the unchecked scrutiny of the Attorney General without judicial intervention. I am disheartened by the other body for their failure to recognize that we can secure America by passing responsible electronic surveillance legislation that does not compromise our civil liberties. Madam Speaker, in August of this year, I strongly opposed S. 1927, the so-called ``Protect America Act'' (PAA) when it came to a vote on the House floor. Had the Bush administration and the Republican- dominated 109th Congress acted more responsibly in the 2 preceding years, we would not have been in the position of debating legislation that had such a profoundly negative impact on the national security and on American values and civil liberties in the crush of exigent circumstances. As that regrettable episode clearly showed, it is true as the saying goes that haste makes waste. The PAA was stampeded through the Congress in the midnight hour of the last day before the long August recess on the dubious claim that it was necessary to fill a gap in the Nation's intelligence gathering capabilities identified by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell. But in reality it would have eviscerated the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and represented an unwarranted transfer of power from the courts to the Executive Branch and a Justice Department led at that time by an Attorney General whose reputation for candor and integrity was, to put it charitably, subject to considerable doubt. The RESTORE Act, H.R. 3773, is superior to the PAA by orders of magnitude. This is due in no small measure, Madam Speaker, to the willingness of the leadership to reach out to and work with all members of the House. The result shows. The RESTORE Act does not weaken our Nation's commitment to its democratic traditions. Rather, it represents a sound policy proposal for achieving the only legitimate goals of a terrorist surveillance program, which is to ensure that American citizens and persons in America are secure in their persons, papers, and effects, but terrorists throughout the world are made insecure. Let me direct the attention of all members to several of the more important aspects of this salutary legislation. First, H.R. 3773 explicitly affirms that the exclusive law to follow with respect to authorizing foreign surveillance gathering on U.S. soil is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). As initially enacted by Congress in 1978, the exclusivity of FISA was undisputed and unambiguous. I hasten to add, however, that while FISA remains the exclusive source of law, H.R. 3773 recognizes that the law as enacted in 1978 can and should be adapted to modem circumstances and to accommodate new technologies. And it does so by making clear that foreign-to-foreign communications are not subject to the FISA, even though modern technology enables that communication to be routed through the United States. Second, under H.R. 3773, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) is indispensable and is accorded a meaningful role in ensuring compliance with the law. The bill ensures that the FISC is empowered to act as an Article III court should act, which means the court shall operate neither as a rubber- stamp nor a bottleneck. Rather, the function of the court is to validate the lawful exercise of executive power on the one hand, and to act as the guardian of individual rights and liberties on the other. Third, the bill does not grant amnesty to any telecommunications company or to any other entity or individual that helped federal intelligence agencies spy illegally on innocent Americans. I strongly support this provision because granting such blanket amnesty for past misconduct will have the unintended consequence of encouraging telecommunications companies to comply with, rather than contest, illegal requests to spy on Americans. The only permissible path to legalization of conduct in this area is full compliance with the requirements of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Moreover, Madam Speaker, it is important to point out that the loudest demands for blanket immunity come not from the telecommunications companies but from the Administration, which raises the interesting question of whether the Administration's real motivation is to shield from public disclosure the ways and means by which government officials may have ``persuaded'' telecommunications companies to assist in its warrantless surveillance programs. I call my colleagues' attention to an article published in the Washington Post in which it is reported that Joseph Nacchio, the former CEO of Qwest, alleges that his company was denied NSA contracts after he declined in a February 27, 2001 meeting at Fort Meade with National Security Agency (NSA) representatives to give the NSA customer calling records. Madam Speaker, the authorization to conduct foreign surveillance on U.S. soil provided by H.R. 3773 is temporary and will expire in 2 years if not renewed by the Congress. This is perhaps the single most important limitation on the authority conferred on the Executive Branch by this legislation. The good and sufficient reason for imposing this limitation is because the threats to America's security and the liberties of its people will change over time and thus require constant vigilance by the people's representatives in Congress. To give a detailed illustration of just how superior the RESTORE Act is to the ill-considered and hastily enacted Protect America Act, I wish to take a few moments to discuss an important improvement in the bill that was adopted in the full Judiciary Committee markup. The Jackson Lee amendment added during the markup made a constructive contribution to the RESTORE Act by laying down a clear, objective criterion for the administration to follow and the FISA court to enforce in preventing reverse targeting. ``Reverse targeting,'' a concept well known to members of this Committee but not so well understood by those less steeped in the arcana of electronic surveillance, is the practice where the government targets foreigners without a warrant while its actual purpose is to collect information on certain U.S. persons. One of the major concerns that libertarians and classical conservatives, as well as progressives and civil liberties organizations, have with the PAA is that the understandable temptation of national security agencies to engage in reverse targeting may be difficult to resist in the absence of strong safeguards in the PAA to prevent it. My amendment reduces even further any such temptation to resort to reverse targeting by requiring the administration to obtain a regular, individualized FISA warrant whenever the ``real'' target of the surveillance is a person in the United States. The amendment achieves this objective by requiring the Administration to obtain a regular FISA warrant whenever a ``significant purpose of an acquisition is to acquire the communications of a specific person reasonably believed to be located in the United States.'' The current language in the bill provides that a warrant be obtained only when the Government ``seeks to conduct electronic surveillance'' of a person reasonably believed to be located in the United States. It was far from clear how the operative language ``seeks to'' is to be interpreted. In contrast, the language used in my amendment, ``significant purpose,'' is a term of art that has long been a staple of FISA jurisprudence and thus is well known and readily applied by the agencies, legal practitioners, and the FISA Court. Thus, the Jackson Lee amendment provides a clearer, more objective, criterion for the Administration to follow and the FISA court to enforce to prevent the practice of reverse targeting without a warrant, which all of us can agree should not be permitted. Let us be clear, Madam Speaker, that nothing in the bill or in my amendment requires the Government to obtain a FISA order for every overseas target on the off chance that they might pick up a call into or from the United States. Rather, the bill requires, as our amendment makes clear, a FISA order only where there is a particular, known person in the United States at the other end of the foreign target's calls in whom the Government has a significant interest such that a significant purpose of the surveillance has become to acquire that person's communications. This will usually happen over time and the Government will have the time to get an order while continuing its surveillance. And it is the national security interest to require it to obtain an order at that point, so that it can lawfully acquire all of the target person's communications rather than continuing to listen to only some of them. The Jackson Lee amendment gives the Government precisely what Director of National Intelligence McConnell asked for when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee: It is very important to me; it is very important to members of this Committee. We should be required--we should be required in all cases to have a warrant anytime there is surveillance of a U.S. [sic] person located in the United States. In short, the Jackson Lee amendment makes a good bill even better. For this reason alone, civil libertarians should enthusiastically embrace the RESTORE Act. Nearly two centuries ago, Alexis de Tocqueville, who remains the most astute student of American democracy, observed that the reason democracies invariably prevail in any martial conflict is because democracy is the governmental form that best rewards and encourages those traits that are indispensable to martial success: initiative, innovation, resourcefulness, and courage. As I wrote in the Politico, ``the best way to win the war on terror is to remain true to our democratic traditions. If it retains its democratic character, no nation and no loose confederation of international villains will defeat the United States in the pursuit of its vital interests.'' Thus, the way forward to victory in the war on terror is for the United States country to redouble its commitment to the Bill of Rights and the democratic values which every American will risk his or her life to defend. It is only by preserving our attachment to these cherished values that America will remain forever the home of the free, the land of the brave, and the country we love. I would ask my colleagues to support this 21-day extension so that we may work together as a body, Members of both the House and the Senate to provide our citizens with the protections they so richly deserve. We need to have time to reconcile the differences between the House and the Senate in order to ensure that the important provisions of the RESTORE Act protecting the constitutional rights of Americans is preserved. I ask my colleagues to support the Bill of Rights and national security by supporting the 21-day extension in H.R. 5349. Madam Speaker, FISA has served the Nation well for nearly 30 years, placing electronic surveillance inside the United States for foreign intelligence and counter-intelligence purposes on a sound legal footing, and I am far from persuaded that it needs to be jettisoned. First, I was prepared to accept temporarily obviating the need to obtain a court order for foreign-to-foreign communications that pass through the United States. However, I continue to insist upon individual warrants, based on probable cause, when surveillance is directed at people in the United States. This can be negotiated during this 21-day extension period. The Attorney General must still be required to submit procedures for international surveillance to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for approval, but the FISA Court should not be allowed to issue a ``basket warrant'' without making individual determinations about foreign surveillance. In all candor, Madam Speaker, I must restate my firm conviction that when it comes to the track record of this President's warrantless surveillance programs, there is still not enough on the public record about the nature and effectiveness of those programs, or the trustworthiness of this administration, to indicate that they require a blank check from Congress. The Bush administration did not comply with its legal obligation under the National Security Act of 1947 to keep the Intelligence Committees ``fully and currently informed'' of U.S. intelligence activities. Congress cannot continue to rely on incomplete information from the Bush administration or revelations in the media. It must conduct a full and complete inquiry into electronic surveillance in the United States and related domestic activities of the NSA, both those that occur within FISA and those that occur outside FISA. The inquiry must not be limited to the legal questions. It must include the operational details of each program of intelligence surveillance within the United States, including: (1) Who the NSA is targeting; (2) how it identifies its targets; (3) the information the program collects and disseminates; and most important, (4) whether the program advances national security interests without unduly compromising the privacy rights of the American people. Given the unprecedented amount of information Americans now transmit electronically and the post-9/11 loosening of regulations governing information sharing, the risk of intercepting and disseminating the communications of ordinary Americans is vastly increased, requiring more precise--not looser--standards, closer oversight, new mechanisms for minimization, and limits on retention of inadvertently intercepted communications. Madam Speaker, the legislation before us is only necessary to give this body time to work with our colleagues in the Senate. The 21-day extension will give us time to impress upon the Senate, how important it is to protect the civil rights of all Americans. I encourage my colleagues to join me in a vote of support of this 21- day extension. H.R. 5349 gives us time to amend the unwise and ill- considered reauthorization of the Protect America Act of 2007.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I join him as a fellow member of the Foreign Affairs Committee to applaud and congratulate the distinguished gentleman from Florida who has a long history of representing Haitians in Florida, and who has a long history of concern for the Haitian people both today and in the past. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and one who has traveled to Haiti and visited individuals who were incarcerated because of their beliefs in democracy, this commemoration is important because it reemphasizes the long-standing friendship between the United States and the Haitian people. I am saddened by the journey that Haitians have had to take over the last decade from Baby Doc and the oppressive leadership that they have had in past years, and their desire of necessity to flee because of persecution to the United States; and then, of course, the double standard between the wet feet/dry feet immigration policies where many of them have been treated in a discriminatory fashion. This accolade is long overdue. I might acknowledge the fact that this was in the early years of our beginning. It was in the dawn of October 9, 1779, that this battle was fought on the western outskirts of Savannah, what was unquestionably the second bloodiest battle of the entire 8 years of the American War for Independence. Can we imagine that. These brave soldiers left their soil, many, many miles away from our land, about 750 Haitian freemen fought alongside colonial troops against the British in the Siege of Savannah on October 9, 1779. In a single hour, there fell within the area of a few hundred square yards more dead and wounded than are credited to any other battlefield in the struggle for American independence except for Bunker Hill. The valor of these brave men deserve to be commemorated, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. Of course, we know that American history is intertwined with many brave persons from places far and wide. But I think this statement today also cements the importance of Haiti today as we fight against the extensive poverty that exists now today, as we try to assist them in building their democratic government, as we try to reemphasize a friendship between the United States and Haiti, and in essence apologize for some of the interventions that could be considered coups that resulted from policies utilized in this country. I would say this is a very important statement that again reinforces the relationship and again talks about the bravery of these Haitian soldiers. At a time when we are engaged in a global war on terror, joined by our friends and allies, it is imperative that we recognize the service and dedication provided in the past by foreign countries like Haiti. Mr. Speaker, I close my words by congratulating Mr. Meek again for this outstanding legislation; but more importantly, thanking the Haitian people, even though it may be somewhat late. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 909, commemorating the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence in the ``Siege of Savannah'' for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery, introduced by my distinguished colleague Congressman Kendrick Meek of Florida. This is to be commended because it helps to educate Americans about the significant contributions made by Haitian ancestors. Mr. Speaker, in the early dawn of October 9, 1779, there was fought, on the then western outskirts of Savannah, what was unquestionably the second bloodiest battle of the entire 8 years of the American War for Independence. About 750 Haitian freemen fought alongside colonial troops against the British in the ``Siege of Savannah'' on October 9, 1779. In a single hour there fell within an area of a few hundred square yards more dead and wounded than are credited to any other battlefield in the struggle for American independence except for Bunker Hill. The valor of those brave men deserves to be commemorated, and I am proud to cosponsor this legislation honoring their bravery and sacrifice. The year before, the city of Savannah, Georgia, had been captured by a British expeditionary corps under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell. On October 9, 1779, there was an attempt to retake Savannah from the British. The siege itself consisted of a joint effort with America, France, and Haiti. This battle represents the Revolutionary War as an international conflict more than any other engagement of the Revolution. It was the first time the French fought alongside the colonial army. This battle reminds us that the contribution of foreign resources, men, money, and material helped lead to the eventual success of the American cause for independence. It is important to provide recognition for the efforts of Haiti and their role in helping to liberate America from British rule. At a time in our country when we are engaged in a global war on terror, joined by our friends and allies, it is imperative that we recognize the service and dedication provided in the past by foreign countries like Haiti. Many of the foreign allied soldiers, including Haitians, who sacrificed during the process of America gaining freedom and independence, have not been recognized for their contributions to this Nation. Some were never told, ``thank you'' for helping to better our society and contributing to our freedom. Too many were forgotten and unrecognized for their diligence, commitment and sacrifices. As we continue to celebrate the month of February and Black History Month, let us be mindful of the Haitian soldiers and the numerous others of the African diaspora that renounced slavery and aided in the formation of our great Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring the courage of the Haitian soldiers who fought for American independence and renunciation of slavery .

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, so many of us have risen and expressed how heavy our heart is tonight. Those of us who served on the Foreign Affairs Committee with the late Chairman Tom Lantos see every day, as we come into that room, his regalness, his royalty, but yet his humbleness. We also get to see the family, his wonderful staff, and his lovely and solid friend, bride, wife, and enormously important person, his wife, Annette. I got to see them working together. I saw Tom's passion in the committee room. He was not afraid of hard issues, and I am so proud to have been able to have joined him as a member of his Human Rights Caucus and to serve in his absence on a number of occasions when we talked about the abuse of children around the world or the abuse and the violence against women around the world. Tom was a fighter. We know that as the only Holocaust victim and survivor to have come to this place. He talked unwavering about human rights and the standing up against despots, and he never feared in doing so. The Human Rights Caucus became part of him. When you saw Tom walking, you knew he exuded a fight for human rights. He also was concerned that we continue to fight in this Congress against oppressive regimes. So even though there are advocates for China and Russia, Burma, and certainly there is constant opposition from the Sudanese Government, he never wavered on Darfur. You heard someone say he was even arrested. I've been proud to stand with him on these fights. He led the fight to end wartime sex slavery by the military; another resolution recognizing the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide; and, yes, he held hearings condemning Internet giant Yahoo's complicity with Chinese oppression of dissidents. And I tell you, he didn't worry about whether that was a constituent; he only worried about human rights. Thank you, Tom, for letting us know your family. I met his daughter, Katrina, and Dick in New Hampshire. What a wonderful spirit they had. I am certainly saddened by his loss, but the fighter he was should live in us. Tom, rest in peace. May God bless you. We fight on with you.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 975, ``expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable Tom Lantos,'' and to express my profound sadness upon the passing of my extremely distinguished colleague. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I mourn the passing of my colleague Congressman Tom Lantos. Chairman Lantos was an extraordinary leader, a man who demonstrated, by his life, that one individual truly can make a difference. As the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress, Congressman Lantos brought a moral voice to Washington, and he relentlessly drew U.S. attention to those suffering throughout the world. It has been my extreme honor and privilege to serve on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, under Chairman Lantos' leadership. Since he was elected to Congress in 1981, Congressman Lantos has used his position in Congress to combat violations of fundamental human rights. Almost immediately following his election, Congressman Lantos established the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which, for over two decades, has focused congressional attention on struggles against oppressive regimes and human suffering across the globe, including in China, Russia, Burma, and Darfur. I have been proud to stand beside him, as a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and I know my colleagues share my commitment to ensuring that his work here in Washington continues. As a fierce advocate of human rights, he continually pressed the Bush administration to take steps to prevent the state-sanctioned massacre and rape of hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan's Darfur region. On April 28, 2006, I was honored to stand side by side with Congressman Lantos and protest the role of the Sudanese Government in carrying out genocide in the Darfur conflict. As chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Lantos did not shy away from controversial issues. Under his leadership, the committee passed a resolution calling on the Japanese Government to end wartime sex slavery by its military, and another resolution recognizing the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide. He has brought landmark anti-trafficking legislation before the committee, held hearings condemning internet giant Yahoo!'s complicity with the Chinese suppression of dissidents, and, tomorrow, the committee is scheduled to consider a groundbreaking reauthorization of the PEPFAR global AIDS relief program. Congressman Lantos was a truly courageous man, and a true leader for our Nation. His legacy is best expressed in his own words, ``It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust . . . could have received an education, raised a family and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a Member of Congress. I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country.'' I offer my condolences to the family of Congressman Lantos: his wife Annette; his two daughters, Annette and Katrina, and 18 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. I also join with other Members of Congress in mourning the passing of an extraordinary person, leader and colleague. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, and in recognizing our distinguished colleague. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) Dies Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), an important voice for Tibetan freedom, died today at the age of 80. He had served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born into a Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary, he twice escaped from a forced labor camp in Szob during the Nazi occupation of his country. The second time, he was sheltered by Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. After the Soviet army liberated Hungary, he discovered that his parents and most of his family had been killed during the occupation. The only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress, Rep. Lantos was chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was also co-chairman and founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a group dedicated to raising awareness about human rights violations around the world. Rep. Lantos was a tireless supporter of the Tibetan independence movement and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His contributions are too numerous to count, so I'll point you to one of the most recent: his speech in San Francisco for the 2007 Tibetan Uprising Day. He also joined Richard Gere and Robert A.F. Thurman in talking about his friendship with and admiration for His Holiness as part of A&E Biography's 1997 documentary Dalai Lama: Soul of Tibet. In addition, Rep. Lantos was the driving force behind the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness last year. When the House of Representatives ultimately voted to give His Holiness the honor, he said: ``In his quiet but persistent way, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has devoted his life to asserting the Tibetan people's rights, lifting their spirits and upholding their dignity. By his humble personal example, through his prolific writings and in his addresses to audiences in every corner of the earth, the Dalai Lama has provided exceptional service to humankind. Such a vast contribution to the betterment of our world deserves special recognition and support. After nearly three decades of friendship with His Holiness, I am deeply honored and proud to have rallied my colleagues to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. We can now look forward to the day when he once again meets with members of Congress--this time to stand before us all to receive this unique and well- earned honor.''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Arizona. I thank the sponsor of this bill. I add my appreciation and recognition of H. Con. Res. 209, expressing the sense of Congress that the Museum of America's Quilter's Society located in Kentucky should be designated as the National Quilter's Museum of the United States. Having had the opportunity to have the Traveling Quilters from Alabama come to Houston, I know that quilting is a national treasure, and it is an important part of our history. It is important for this Congress each step of the way to remind Americans of how valuable their history is. We happen to be in Black History Month; and I know that as we look to honor everyone's history, it is to say that Americans are united, we are one. So I am very proud to acknowledge this resolution and to support it. Mr. Speaker, I just got off the plane from Texas and I do want to make mention of H. Res. 954. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the Subcommittee on Immigration, and as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise to honor the life of fallen Border Patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar, who lost his life in the line of duty at Yuma, Arizona, on January 19, 2008. Many times, Americans do not really understand that our Border Patrol agents put themselves in the line of fire, and they are, in fact, first responders on behalf of the people of the United States. I want to give honor to his family, certainly to his fellow Border Patrol agents, and to acknowledge my deepest sympathy to them and as well to them as a family. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I am forever reminded of their service and have been an advocate for providing them with more resources. We do need to get a complete response to immigration, both through border security and comprehensive immigration reform. In conclusion, let me say that I want to express again my sadness in the loss of senior Border Patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar and again express my sympathy on behalf of all Americans. We are indebted to his service and, of course, we consider him a national hero.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Ways and Means Committee for the good work they have done with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on coming forward today and providing us with an opportunity to do the smart thing, and that is to provide this extension for this trust fund. Yesterday, in my capacity on the Transportation Security Committee, I hosted the Transportation Security Administrator in my district at one of my large airports. Obviously, the infrastructure of airports, the safety of airports, travels parallel to the security of airports. This is a vital fund for cities like Houston, Texas, which happens to have one of the top 10 airports in the Nation. Airports are sites used by millions and millions of Americans every single day, and therefore it is important that the delay of the actual completion of a final bill not be used to prevent the flow of dollars to protect our airports and provide safe and secure passage for our travelers. I understand, as my good friend from New York has indicated, that the delay is in the Senate. This is the right direction to go. I applaud the Ways and Means Committee and Chairman Charlie Rangel, and I rise enthusiastically to support this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 954, honoring the life of senior border patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar, who lost his life in the line of duty near Yuma, Arizona. Agent Aguilar's death serves as another stark reminder of the risks our front-line agents and officers face each day. Aguilar was trying to place spike strips in the path of two vehicles believed to have illegally entered the country from Mexico when one of the vehicles hit him. Both vehicles drove back across the border into Mexico. After over 5 years of dedicated service in the United States Border Patrol, Luis Aguilar selflessly paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States. The fatal incident occurred about 20 miles west of Yuma in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area near Andrade, California, just over the California state line from Arizona. This area is frequently used by smugglers carrying people or drugs. A half hour earlier agents had seen a brown Hummer and a red Ford F-250 pickup crossing from Mexico into the United States. The vehicles traveled west on Interstate 8, and the vehicles turned around, heading back the way they had come with the Border Patrol in pursuit. Luis Aguilar resided in Somerton, Arizona, and is survived by his mother and father, his wife, Erica Aguilar, his two children, Luis and Ariana, his brother, senior Border Patrol agent Marco Antonio Aguilar, and his sister, Angie Aguila. Border Patrol agents carry out the vital role of protecting our Nation's borders and ensuring the safety of the United States. Agents work devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the people of the United States, without regard for the peril or danger to themselves; and the United States will forever be grateful for the service of Luis Aguilar and mourn his loss. I recognize the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and woman who have lost their lives while serving as United States Border Patrol agents. I honor Luis Aguilar for his service as a Border Patrol agent and for his sacrifice to the United States and extend my deepest condolences to the family of Luis Aguilar.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman, Mr. Rangel; and to Mr. Kanjorski; the whole team; and our most forthright and determined Speaker and this bipartisan leadership that has responded to the pain and the hurt of so many Americans. Some would ask the question why are we moving so fast and why are we investing in people who are those who would receive dollars who happen to be low income. Because people are hurting. So I'm glad that we have these values that have created this vehicle to help America and that we are including help and rebates for the elderly. We are including moneys for 35 million families who work but yet make too little to pay income tax in the way that you think of them paying, but they do pay taxes. They will get a rebate. Disabled veterans will get a rebate. But I look forward to the time when we can extend the unemployment, we can expand food stamps and Medicaid only because people are hurting. Why are they hurting? Because we are spending $120 billion in Iraq. For the gentleman who just spoke, if we stop doing that, we will be able to provide for the engine of the economy. Why do we need it? Because in this budget right here that the President has offered, $39 million will be taken away in social services block grants from Texans and millions of dollars for the rest of Americans. Why are we hurting? Because $47 million will be taken away from Texans as it relates to community block grants. And 200 communities will be impacted. More people hurting. This is the right direction. This economic stimulus package is quick. It gives back to families. It gives back to hardworking families. It gives back to moderate- and low-income families. And it says that Warren Buffet is right. Give money to hardworking Americans so that they can make a difference. Give money to invest in communities so we can build up the economic economy. And, lastly, let me say thank you so very much for the increase in the FHA loans of $729,000. People are hurting, and we need to be able to provide for those people who are hurting. A moratorium on foreclosures is necessary. Support the economic stimulus. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate Amendments to the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act. I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi for her leadership on this issue, as well as my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked together to overcome partisan divisions to work together to stimulate our national economy. This legislation will inject over $106 billion into the economy in 2008, over 2/3 of which will come in the form of tax rebate checks, given directly to individuals and families. I also want to thank the Senate for their amendments which extend the stimulus rebate checks to 250,000 disabled veterans and at least 20 million additional American seniors living on Social Security. However, while I support this legislation, I would like to express my concern about some of this bill's omissions. requested and had hoped that this legislation would include language declaring that it is the sense of Congress that a moratorium of up to 90 days should be declared on all home foreclosures, and that it is the sense of Congress that the financial industry should allow for the reconstruction and reconfiguration of the mortgage loan market. Madam Speaker, I would have liked to see the following language included in the final legislation, agreed on by both Houses and signed into law by the President: (i) It is the sense of Congress that a moratorium of up to 90 days should be declared on all home foreclosures. (ii) It is the sense of Congress that the financial industry should allow for the reconstruction and reconfiguration of the mortgage loan market. It was my sincere hope, shared by many economists, that a temporary economic adjustment period including a cap on adjustable mortgage rates would provide relief for millions of Americans, and that this added time would give them time to look for other resources. By delaying foreclosure, Congress would have declared that millions of Americans deserve to make their payments, or to get their loans restructured before they lose their homes. Those who can keep paying would continue putting money back into our economy. Madam Speaker, we must act now to prevent what could be a disaster for millions of Americans. There are a number of additional proposals that I would have liked to see included in the final Economic Stimulus package. I believe it should have included a summer job program, aimed at helping our nation's youth gain the crucial work experience and job skills that will allow them to be competitive in today's increasingly difficult employment market. By working to Provide Americans with the skills they need to successfully secure and keep employment, we can not only help both adults and youth to develop their careers and to support themselves and their families, but we can bolster the whole economy by combating poverty and unemployment. I would also like to see the extension and expansion of several existent programs which are already doing important work toward helping Americans such as unemployment benefits. Under the strain of current financial circumstances, I believe that we must bolster these important programs, especially for hard working Americans who have lost their jobs. Madam Speaker, I call for the expansion of food stamps and Medicaid programs, and for the extension of unemployment benefits. Given the current economic climate, I believe that is our responsibility, as the leaders of our nation, to do all in our power to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are protected. That is why I am particularly pleased to support the Senate amendments extending benefits to disabled veterans who risked their lives to protect the freedoms we cherish and seniors who spent decades of their lives contributing to our economy. Madam Speaker, now is the time for innovative leadership and concerted action. Recent data shows economic growth is slowing, and many economic analysts predict a 50% chance of recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rose from 4.7% to 5.0% in November 2007 alone. This data, coupled with a struggling housing market and overall slowing economic growth, has caused a ``credit crunch'' that has reduced available funding and has caused rising prices for housing and food. Over the past year, we have seen a crisis in subprime mortgage lending, which has threatened the stability of the housing market and the livelihoods of large numbers of Americans. During the third quarter of 2007, the nation's home foreclosures doubled from the previous year. This Democratic Congress is committed to strengthening the housing market and stabilizing the economy, and we have passed important legislation to address this crisis. Because of the lack of regulation by the federal government, many housing loans were accompanied by fraud, predatory lending, inadequate information and other failures of responsible marketing. With exceptionally high (and rising) foreclosure rates across the country, homeowners all over America are losing their homes. Homeowners are surprised to find out that their monthly payments are spiking and they are struggling to make these increasingly high payments. The sub-prime mortgage crisis has impacted families and communities across the country. Home foreclosure filings rose to 1.2 million in 2006--a 42 percent jump--due to rising mortgage bills and a slowing housing market. Nationally, as many as 2.4 million sub-prime borrowers have either lost their homes or could lose them in the next few years. In my home state of Texas, citizens are feeling the impact of the looming financial crisis. In November 2007 alone, there were 11,599 foreclosure filings in Texas. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, in Harris County alone 11,944 homes were lost from 2005-2006 through foreclosure on sub prime loans. During the same time period, the average home decreased $1,355 in total value. Madam Speaker, I firmly believe that this agreement should include a moratorium on foreclosures of at least 90 days on owner-occupied homes with subprime mortgages. Any agreement should also include a rate freeze on adjustable mortgages of at least five years or until the loan is converted into a fixed-rate mortgage. The freeze on foreclosures would give the housing market time to stabilize and homeowners time to build equity. It is critical that we address this crisis. The Bush administration and the mortgage industry must reach an agreement that matches the scale of the problem. The U.S. Treasury Department has been pushing the mortgage industry to agree to temporarily freeze interest rates for some borrowers who took out loans with low teaser rates that will soon be resetting much higher. Madam Speaker, it is imperative that we address the serious underlying housing issues faced by our nation. 17 million households, or one in seven, spend more than 50% of their income on housing. On any given night, approximately 750,000 men, women, and children are homeless. Constructing more affordable housing is necessary to help families who have lost their homes in the subprime mortgage crisis or due to a family financial crisis, such as illness or job loss. In my home district in Houston, homelessness remains a significant problem. Houston's homeless population increased to approximately 14,000 in 2005, before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and hurricane evacuees remaining in the Houston area could result in the homeless population increasing by some 23,000. Approximately 28% of homeless Americans are veterans. In August, I, in coordination with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, hosted a workshop on the introductory concepts and considerations in applying for Housing Tax Credits in Texas. This workshop was designed to create new incentives for developers to expand business opportunities in housing development, as well as to generate a significant increase in the availability of low-income and affordable housing for the residents of Houston and Harris County. I believe that an increase in affordable housing and job opportunities will help reduce the high rates of homelessness among Houston residents. Madam Speaker, today's economic stimulus legislation will make important strides towards helping hardworking Americans who are struggling with the high costs of gas, health care, and groceries. By putting several hundred dollars directly into the hands of over 130 million American families, this legislation will make important strides toward invigorating our economy, giving money to those who will quickly spend it, reinvesting this money in the American economy. This bill provides broad-based relief for individuals and families, valued at approximately $115 billion over 10 years. The packages include tax cuts for 130 million families, providing up to $600 per individual, $1,200 per married couple, and an additional $300 per child. On top of these recovery rebate checks, which could be sent as early as mid-May, this legislation will provide unprecedented tax relief for working families, with $32 billion in tax relief for 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes, who would therefore otherwise not be included in this recovery effort. It is targeted to reach those who need the relief the most: of these 35 million working families, over 19 million are families with children. I support provisions in this legislation providing tax relief to middle- income Americans, as well as those aspiring to the middle class, leaving out the wealthiest taxpayers. Nearly $50 billion of the rebate will go to those making less than $50,000. Madam Speaker, family incomes and home prices are down, even as the costs of health care, energy, food, and education are on the rise. Combined with the jump in mortgage foreclosures, the American economy is struggling, with American families falling behind on their bills and consumer confidence hitting a five year low. This bill also contains some provisions to help families avoid foreclosure. It increases affordable refinancing opportunities and liquidity in the housing market, increasing the Federal Housing Administration loan limits to $729,750 for 2008. This will expand affordable mortgage loan opportunities for families at risk of foreclosure. Further, it includes a one-year increase in loan limits for single family homes from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, enhancing credit availability in the mortgage market. While this legislation includes provisions intended to provide a short-term ``fix'' to many of the economic difficulties our economy is currently facing, I do not believe that it addresses the long-term needs of our Nation. While short-term response is critical, we must not neglect infrastructure, energy independence, and innovation needs, without which we will not be able to establish a vibrant U.S. economy. I look forward to working with House leadership, and with my fellow Members on both sides of the aisle, to look to the future, and to build innovative and long-term solutions to the underlying problems our economy faces. Madam Speaker, this legislation is not perfect, but I believe it is an important step. I continue to advocate for a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures to give financially troubled borrowers time to work with lenders and avoid losing their homes. I also believe we, together, must address the underlying infrastructure problems plaguing our economy. However, I do believe today's legislation will provide important benefits to millions of Americans, to the entire economy, and to our Nation as a whole. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative George Miller. This significant piece of legislation provides greater access to colleges and universities making higher education affordable for all Americans, not just the wealthy. A quality education continues to be the best pathway to social and economic mobility in this country. As a Member and Senior Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have consistently advocated for the maintenance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This legislation will increase funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as Hispanic and other minority-serving institutions, and it will expand college access and support for low- income and minority students. This legislation contains provisions allowing students to receive Pell Grant scholarships year-round, and it increases the Pell Grant maximum to $9,000. In addition, it strengthens college readiness programs, namely the TRIO and GEAR UP college readiness and support programs for low-income and first-generation students. These increases will expand college access for low-income and minority students. The amendment offered by my colleagues Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson and Representative Don Young, expands upon current Pell Grant eligibility allowing children who lost a mother or father to our wars in Iraq or Afghanistan eligible for the maximum amount of Pell Grant assistance. In this age of global war on terror, it is imperative that we ensure that those left behind by those who the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation are given the greatest opportunity our country can provide. As such, I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment. In Texas, over 87,000 African-Americans are incarcerated compared to approximately 48,000 African-Americans attending college or university. The disparity between the percentages of our youth in prison versus the number of young people in college, particularly in the African-American community, is disturbing to say the least. Higher education continues to be one of the main pathways to social and economic mobility, particularly in the African-American and Hispanic communities. I strongly support the amendment offered by my distinguished colleagues, Representatives Alcee Hastings and Representative Linda Sanchez, authorizing a nationwide program through the Department of Education to promote holistic community-centered partnerships aimed at mitigating gang violence and reducing recidivism rates among juvenile ex-offenders previously detained for gang-related offenses. This amendment a second- chance to America's most vulnerable youth, I fully support the vision of this amendment and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment. Mr. Speaker, this legislation contains important provisions opening up even wider opportunities for our veterans by increasing college aid and housing aid for not only veterans, but their families. This legislation creates a new scholarship program for active duty military personnel and family members, including children and spouses of active duty military service members or veterans. It establishes support centers to help veterans succeed in college and graduate. Finally, it ensures fairness in student aid and housing aid for veterans, making it easier for them to attend college while also fulfilling their military service duties. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my strong support for an amendment introduced by my distinguished colleague, Congressman Danny Davis, restoring safeguards to student loan borrowers. Mr. Speaker, students who take out loans borrow money as part of their pursuit to better themselves and contribute to the advancement of our nation and economy. However, current bankruptcy laws apply the same severe standards to student borrowers that it applies to those trying to escape child support payments, alimony, overdue taxes, and criminal fines. Under Mr. Davis's amendment, government student loans and loans made by nonprofit entities would remain non-dischargeable; other student loans, made by for-profit banks and other lenders, would continue to be non-dischargeable for the first five years after they come due, and after that time they would be treated like other unsecured consumer loans in bankruptcy. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and to work to restore bankruptcy protection to private student loans. Understanding the federal application for Federal Student Aid can be challenging and complex even for the most knowledgeable parent. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act would streamline and simplify the application process giving families the tools they need to properly plan for their college expenses. This legislation will reform our higher education system ensuring students and their families have they information they need to understand their borrowing options when applying for federal and private loans. Mr. Speaker, as an active Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am extremely supportive of the provisions in this legislation that boost campus safety and disaster readiness plans. Last year's tragedy at Virginia Tech has illustrated the horror to which students might be exposed, and natural disasters in recent years have underlined the necessity of having campus disaster plans. This legislation helps all colleges develop and implement state-of- the-art emergency systems and campus safety plans, and it requires that the Department of Education to develop and maintain a disaster plan in preparation for emergencies. In addition, this legislation creates a National Center for Campus Safety at the Department of Justice to work in collaboration with the COPS program. Finally, it establishes a disaster relief loan program, to help schools recover and rebuild in the event of a disaster. This important piece of legislation gives our youth, our veterans, and our families the opportunity to not only dream of attending college but actually realize that dream. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4137. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 956 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 7. That immediately upon the adoption of this resolution the House shall, without intervention of any point of order, consider in the House the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 263) to establish the Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform, and for other purposes. The concurrent resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative George Miller. This significant piece of legislation provides greater access to colleges and universities, making higher education affordable for all Americans, not just the wealthy. A quality education continues to be the best pathway to social and economic mobility in this country. As a Member and Senior Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have consistently advocated for the maintenance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This legislation will increase funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as Hispanic and other minority-serving institutions, and it will expand college access and support for low- income and minority students. This legislation contains provisions allowing students to receive Pell Grant scholarships year-round, and it increases the Pell Grant maximum to $9,000. In addition, it strengthens college readiness programs, namely the TRIO and GEAR UP college readiness and support programs for low-income and first-generation students. These increases will expand college access for low-income and minority students. In Texas, over 87,000 African-Americans are incarcerated compared to approximately 48,000 African-Americans attending college or university. The disparity between the percentages of our youth in prison versus the number of young people in college, particularly in the African-American community, is disturbing to say the least. Higher education continues to be one of the main pathways to social and economic mobility, particularly in the African-American and Hispanic communities. Mr. Chairman, this legislation contains important provisions opening up even wider opportunities for our veterans. Our own Congressman Charles Rangel was enlisted in the Army before even finishing high school. Through the G.I. Bill, he obtained his bachelor's degree and eventually his law degree to become Chairman of Ways and Means. H.R. 4137 goes beyond what the G.I. Bill did for Chairman Rangel, increasing college aid and housing aid for not only veterans, but their families. This legislation creates a new scholarship program for active duty military personnel and family members, including children and spouses of active duty military service members or veterans. It establishes support centers to help veterans succeed in college and graduate. Finally, it ensures fairness in student aid and housing aid for veterans, making it easier for them to attend college while also fulfilling their military service duties. Mr. Chairman, I would also like to express my strong support for an amendment introduced by my distinguished colleague, Congressman Danny Davis, restoring safeguards to student loan borrowers. Mr. Chairman, students who take out loans borrow money as part of their pursuit to better themselves and contribute to the advancement of our Nation and economy. However, current bankruptcy laws apply the same severe standards to student borrowers that it applies to those trying to escape child support payments, alimony, overdue taxes, and criminal fines. I do not believe those of our sons and daughters should be punished for trying to get an education. All student loans are currently non- dischargeable in bankruptcy, except in cases on a judicial finding of undue hardship (an extremely difficult standard to meet). Under Mr. Davis's amendment, government student loans and loans made by nonprofit entities would remain non-dischargeable; other student loans, made by for-profit banks and other lenders, would continue to be non- dischargeable for the first five years after they come due, and after that time they would be treated like other unsecured consumer loans in bankruptcy. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and to work to restore bankruptcy protection to private student loans. Understanding the federal application for federal student aid can be challenging and complex even for the most knowledgeable parent. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act would streamline and simplify the application process giving families the tools they need to properly plan for their college expenses. This legislation will reform our higher education system ensuring students and their families have the information they need to understand their borrowing options when applying for federal and private loans. Mr. Chairman, as an active member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am extremely supportive of the provisions in this legislation that boost campus safety and disaster readiness plans. Last year's tragedy at Virginia Tech has illustrated the horror to which students might be exposed, and natural disasters in recent years have underlined the necessity of having campus disaster plans. This legislation helps all colleges develop and implement state-of- the-art emergency systems and campus safety plans, and it requires the Department of Education to develop and maintain a disaster plan in preparation for emergencies. In addition, this legislation creates a National Center for Campus Safety at the Department of Justice to work in collaboration with the COPS program. Finally, it establishes a disaster relief loan program, to help schools recover and rebuild in the event of a disaster. The cost of higher education has risen to the point that it has affected our workforce and our public service sectors. This country needs firefighters, public defenders, law enforcement officials, and educators just as much as it needs doctors and investment brokers. H.R. 4137 would encourage students to enter vital public service jobs by authorizing up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness. This important piece of legislation gives our youth, our veterans, and our families the opportunity to not only dream of attending college but actually realize that dream. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4137.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today the House will address one of the most important issues in America's future, that is, the opportunity to give young people a chance for a higher education. H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, does just that. It is interesting, however, that the President's budget unfortunately does not recognize that opportunity, and it is in the business of cutting those opportunities for our young people. The supplemental education opportunity grants for needy undergraduates is now being cut. So I hope that on the floor today we will make a statement to support our schools. I represent Texas Southern University, a school that has been under seige by its Republican State government. A school that is historically black received moneys from the past administration and the desegregation settlements. But yet even today, it is not receiving the funding that it should receive from the State of Texas. I will be introducing legislation that will ensure that historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving colleges cannot be undermined by State government funding when they come under the supervision of the Department of Education. Our bill is a good bill. It's a step forward. Mr. President, I hope that you will recognize that we cannot cut the opportunities of young people.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 867 commending the Houston Dynamo for winning the 2007 Major League Soccer Cup. I would first like to commend our distinguished colleague Gene Green of the 29th Congressional District of Texas for introducing this important resolution. The Houston Dynamo has consistently strived for excellence and dominated the MLS playoffs for 2 consecutive years and I am happy to commend them for their efforts. The Dynamo played their first game on April 2, 2006, in front of a crowd of 25,462 in Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo finished their first season in Houston with an 11-8-13 record, earning them second place in the Western Conference. On November 12, 2006, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, the Houston Dynamo defeated the New England Revolution in an exciting match decided by the first shootout in MLS history, 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie to win the 2006 MLS Cup. After regrouping in 2007 and pulling off a win against rival FC Dallas, Houston began an winning streak of 11 games and a shutout streak of 726 minutes, a new MLS record. They finished in second place in the regular season in the Western Conference, advancing to the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they met State rivals FC Dallas in the first round. Just like in 2006, they faced the New England Revolution for the championship, and won it 2-1 on a game-winning goal by Dwayne De Rosario in the second half, thus winning their second MLS Cup in a row. As a native Houstonian I am proud to honor the Houston Dynamo for their sheer dominance since the premiere of MLS soccer in the United States. I strongly urge the community to support the Houston Dynamo as they will need it to sustain the expectations they have already lived up to. I strongly support this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey for his kindness and his leadership, and to add my appreciation as well for Congressman Kennedy for the years that he has worked on this issue. And I join them in raising our voices. I remember the leadership that came from another Member from New Jersey, and Congressman Pallone has now embraced this issue in his capacity and leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee. And my classmate, Congressman Kennedy, has been pressing this message along with Congressman Ramstad for a very long time, that we have the capacity and the empathy and sympathy to address the question of mental health parity, but we have not yet had the energy and the results- oriented efforts that it needs. I pay tribute, of course, to the late Senator Paul Wellstone, who came to my district some years ago through my invitation as cochair of the Congressional Children's Caucus and visited our juvenile detention centers and emphasized that many of the juveniles that were then incarcerated also needed greater access to mental health facilities and mental health services. Mental health parity and the extension thereof of the annual lifetime limits is crucial to save lives. How many of us have seen on the news or addressed our constituents where seniors, parents are calling the police for their adult children who are suffering from mental health needs? Tragically, some of those encounters end in death. There is no need for that. In addition, we will be seeing, as the war in Iraq ends and Afghanistan's war and conflict ends, numbers of individuals coming back who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, and we will say that's the Veterans Affairs' concern, or brain trauma. Yes, in the realm of the framework of their return, it may be; but they will live, and through their lifetime may have encounters that need to have the coverage of a mental health parity bill. I support H.R. 4848 and thank Congressman Pallone for the insight to move forward on this extension. But I pray tell that we will find it in our determination to move forward on the Paul Wellstone parity bill that is being carried by Congressman Kennedy and a number of others. I have supported this legislation for a number of years, so I rise enthusiastically for H.R. 4848. And, if I might, having missed the discussion on H. Con. Res 283, the bill dealing with Kenya, I simply want to add my statement into the Record, but call out for the compliance with this legislation, as it is passed, that we have sanctions for those who will not come to the peace table, that we compliment Kenya for its democracy, but, as well, that we push them toward a settlement of this vicious incident, having killed 900 people. I end my comments by asking for enthusiastic support for H.R. 4848.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 283, calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya, introduced by my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Chairman Payne. This important legislation commends the Kenyan people for their significant strides towards democracy and calls for the peaceful resolution of their current electoral crisis. As a senior Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, I am deeply concerned with the current crisis in Kenya. It saddens me to see the once relatively stable country of Kenya explode into chaotic violence, which has left more than 900 people dead and forced 300,000 people from their homes. Democracy must move forward in Kenya, and the cry for clear, transparent and peaceful elections must not go unheard by the international community. As Kenya's political crisis also becomes a humanitarian emergency, with over 300,000 people displaced from their homes and the distribution of food aid halted, experts have begun to warn of a looming health crisis. It is vital for the people of Kenya that we work rapidly to bring this conflict to a peaceful conclusion. This important legislation denounces Kenyan security forces from using unwarranted force and urges them to respect the human rights of Kenyan citizens. This legislation further condemns the callous terrorization to civil society groups, journalists, religious leaders, and civil rights leaders. While Kenya has long been an important friend and ally to the United States, at times our relationship has been strained due to concerns about corruption and human rights conditions in the sub-Saharan nation. However, this intricate relationship has been recently renewed and reinvigorated with the advent of the 1992 multiparty elections in Kenya. The people of Kenya have shown a desire and commitment for democracy that is unprecedented and sets a new standard for the region. Their unparalleled commitment to democracy and respect for the democratic process is indicated in the high voter turnout and peaceful voting on election day. On December 27, 2007, the desire of the Kenyan nation for a meaningful change in politics and the revival of democracy was manifest in the millions of Kenyans who took to the polls. The months preceding the December elections showed opposition candidate Raila Odinga leading in the polls over incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. Amidst domestic and international cries of polling irregularities, the Electoral Commission of Kenya declared President Kibaki as the winner. It is not the election itself but rather the aftermath of the elections and a way forward that concerns us here today. The Kenyan Constitution authorizes the establishment of the Electoral Commission of Kenya, ECK. While the ECK is comprised of 22 commissioners, 19 of the commissioners were appointed by President Kibaki last year, which is authorized by the Kenyan Constitution. What is not authorized was the appointment of the new commissioners without proper consultation with opposition parties, which violated the Inter-Parliamentary Parties Group Agreement of 1997. While the ECK quickly declared President Kibaki the winner, the chairman of the commission later admitted that he ``was under intense political pressure from powerful political leaders and the ruling party.'' Furthermore, press reports quote the Kenya Electoral Commission Chairman Samuel M. Kivuitu as stating that ``the day he went to deliver the certificate declaring Kibaki the winner, he saw the chief justice already at the State House reportedly waiting to swear in Kibaki.'' The swearing-in ceremony itself was so rushed that it is said organizers forgot to include the national anthem in the program. Mr. Speaker, to call these events ``irregularities'' as the ECK commissioners and ECK staff have conceded, is a vast understatement. In order for Kenya to continue moving forward on its current democratic trajectory, elections must be transparent, free, and fair, none of which were seen in the December 27 election. This legislation calls upon the two leading presidential candidates to accept offers of external and internal assistance to help find a solution to the current crisis that has the support of the people of Kenya. What is equally disturbing was the United States' reaction to this electoral crisis. While the EU observers criticized the election for its myriad of inconsistencies, on December 30, the United States government reportedly congratulated President Kibaki for his victory. In a recently released report, the EU concluded, ``the 2007 general elections have fallen short of key international and regional standards for democratic elections. Most significantly, they were marred by a lack of transparency in the processing and tallying of presidential results, which raises concerns about the accuracy of the final results of this election.'' Following both regional and international uproar, the United States seemingly changed its position in January as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, declared that ``serious flaws in the vote tallying process damaged the credibility of the process.'' Such inconsistency on the part of diplomatic corps of the United States sends a poor message to our friends and allies struggling for democracy across the sea. As outrage over the electoral results permeated throughout the country, so too did spontaneous demonstrations of anger and ultimately violence. Recent statistics reported by the UN and Kenyan sources state that since late December more than 900 people have been killed and an estimated 300,000 displaced, including some 80,000 children under the age of five. International observers have proclaimed that while some protestors died due to mob violence, many others were reportedly shot and killed by police. While the Kenya military did not engage in riot control for most of January, press reports and Kenyan sources state that Kenyan police and security were given authority to use lethal force to dissipate mobs. In the wake of the disputed election results, the Kenyan government banned demonstrations and initiated media restrictions, which seem to have further stoked the fire. Mr. Speaker, with the intolerable number of Kenyans dead and displaced, it is imperative that the United States play a meaningful role in resolving the current crises. With, two failed international missions, it is time that we rethink our strategy in addressing the current crisis. The ongoing violence as a means to achieve political objectives in Kenya must come to a halt. We need the superior support of the United Nations to assist those affected by violence, and use all the diplomatic means to persuade relevant political actors to commit to a peaceful resolution to the crisis. This legislation emphasizes precisely these issues. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this extremely important legislation that arbitrates for the Kenyan people.