Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 943, ``Remembering the space shuttle Challenger disaster and honoring its crew members, who lost their lives on January 28, 1986,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from New Hampshire, Representative Paul W. Hodes. This important legislation will honor the lives, the work, and the memory of the seven men and women who lost their lives on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger mission. I would like to thank Representative Hodes for introducing this bill, of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor, as well as Chairman Gordon for his leadership in bringing this important and timely bill to the floor today. On January 28, 1986, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ron McNair commenced on a risky journey, which only a select few have had the opportunity to travel. Twenty-two years ago, these extraordinary men and women embarked on what they knew would be a perilous flight, in pursuit of knowledge and driven by the spirit of scientific discovery. As we stand here today, on the floor of the House of Representatives, and commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Challenger tragedy, I believe we should take a moment to recall the purpose to which the crew was dedicated. Astronauts Onizuka, McAuliffe, Jarvis, Resnik, Smith, Scobee, and McNair represent the best in all of us, and it is in their memory that we should devote ourselves to continuing what they began. Mr. Speaker, as we mourn the tragic loss of these extraordinary men and women, I would also like to praise those individuals who continue to accept the challenges posed by the exploration of space and the dedication of all connected with the manned space program. However, while space exploration continues to be a part of our national destiny, it is vital that safety is made our first priority, in order to protect future astronauts and ensure the tragedy of 22 years ago never happens again. From the beginning, our Nation has recognized the importance of the exploration of space and has always taken a leading role in its development and exploration. The expansion of our horizons has been essential for reasons beyond the technological advances it may provide. Moreover, it represents mankind's capability to turn distant dreams into a practical reality. However, safety must remain our first priority. In June of last year, we watched as the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station both experienced serious safety scares. The shuttle's mission had to be extended following the discovery of a rip in the shuttle's thermal blanket. The space station experienced the failure of a Russian-operated computer system controlling a crucial portion of the station's navigational system. These recent incidents clearly indicate the need for improved safety standards and oversight. Space exploration must be coupled with satisfactory safety assurances. Because of my ongoing commitment to the safe exploration of space, I was proud to introduce an amendment to H.R. 3093, the Departments of Commerce and Justice and Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008, reaffirming our strong commitment to ensuring adequate safety standards for the International Space Station. My amendment emphasizes the importance of safety standards by ensuring that none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to limit the safety provisions enumerated in the recent NASA Authorization Act. If the recently delivered recommendations of the congressionally mandated International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force are to be successful in identifying and mitigating future risks to the International Space Station, Congress, together with the administration, must firmly reaffirm its commitment to pursuing safety as a top priority. My amendment was overwhelmingly approved, by a vote of 422 to 3, and accepted into the bill. At a time where our televisions, newspapers, radios and other forms of media are dominated with discussions of presidential nominations, housing foreclosures, economic stimulus packages, Middle Eastern conflicts and the war in Iraq, it would be all too easy to disregard our commitment to the enterprise of space exploration and its value to the United States and abroad. Let us look to the sky to honor the memory of these fallen heroes who gave their lives for the cause of pushing the limit of human exploration for the enrichment of all of mankind. Mr. Speaker, words cannot conveyor adequately repay the debt that is owed. We cannot sufficiently articulate the feelings of sorrow that are universally felt; however, we can pay those seven souls no greater tribute than to carry on the work they believed in and paid the ultimate sacrifice for. The contributions to space exploration and service these great astronauts provided are priceless and will never go unrecognized. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and in so doing, giving the men and women of our space program the respect and recognition they deserve.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 942, Recognizing the Significance of Black History Month, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Texas, Representative Green. This important legislation recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans in this Nation. The celebration of Black History Month began with Negro History Week in 1926, the vision of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson, a noted African-American author and scholar recognized then, as we do today, that the achievements and contributions of African-Americans deserve not only to be acknowledged, but also to be celebrated by all Americans. Over the course of 50 years, Negro History gained momentum, culminating in its transcendence to Black History Month. Now each February we express our appreciation of the struggles, determination and perseverance of the African-American community of the past and present. February is a month to recognize the contributions of African- Americans who have enriched our culture and our heritage. There have been great African-American activists, scientists, artists, poets, athletes, politicians, writers, economists, musicians, engineers, and entertainers who have all bettered our way of life. From Harriet Tubman to Barbara Jordan, Althea Gibson to Venus Williams, Marian Anderson to Ella Fitzgerald, Frederick Douglass to Martin Luther King, Jr., so many African-Americans have enriched this Nation that there are far too many to name them all. Unfortunately, the struggle for African-Americans to gain recognition and celebration in this Nation continues beyond Black History Month. While we can be proud of the many achievements of our past, events such as Hurricane Katrina and Jena 6, demonstrate that we still have much to achieve in the way of equal rights and justice for all. One of the great challenges facing the African-American community is the disproportionate rate at which our people are incarcerated. According to the Department of Justice more than 2.3 million people are incarcerated in this Nation's State and Federal prisons. As of December 2006, African-Americans made up 40.2 percent of Federal prison inmates, most of those being African-American men. When you compare these statistics with the fact that African- Americans only make up approximately 12 percent of the total population, the disparity becomes more apparent. The human toll--the wasted lives, shattered families, and disturbed youth--are incalculable, as are the adverse social, economic and political consequences of weakened communities, diminished opportunities for economic mobility, and widespread disenfranchisement. In Jena, Louisiana, two African-American high school students sat under what some White students called the ``white'' tree on their campus. The White students responded by hanging nooses from the tree. When African-American students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, the District Attorney came to the school and told the students he could ``take their lives away with a stroke of his pen.'' Racial tensions continued to mount in Jena, and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against African-American students. But when a White student--who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses--taunted African-American students, allegedly called several African-American students ``nigger'', and was beaten up by African-American students, the punishment was drastically different. Six African-American students were charged with second- degree attempted murder. Mychal Bell was one of the students tried and convicted. He faced up to 22 years in prison for essentially a school fight. The African-American community came to the aid of these young men, as they have done in years past for other young men. While we take this month to celebrate the past and present African-American achievements and contributions, we must face the future with an understanding that there is more to be done and more to be achieved. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a Representative of the people of the United States, and an African-American woman, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today with great concern to H.R. 5104, to extend the Protect American Act of 2007 for 30 days. I thank the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee and I applaud him for his consistent and impeccable commitment to civil liberties and civil rights. Madam Speaker, this administration has the legal responsibility to protect the American people. Let no one come to this floor and suggest that what we are doing today is going to save lives, because last year we passed legislation that indicated that foreign-to-foreign communication had no barriers, no barriers for those who are seeking intelligence. Yet when an American was involved, the Bill of Rights, the fourth amendment, civil liberties with the underpinnings, and therefore a court intervened. Extending the Protect America Act for 30 days in the hopes that the Senate will produce a version that we are satisfied with is not a sufficient reason for violating the civil rights and liberties of the American people. Homeland security is not a Republican or a Democratic issue. It is an issue for all Americans--all of us. Not one of us who sang ``God Bless America'' on the steps of this House will allow anyone to undermine the security of America. The original legislation offered by the House Majority gave the Administration everything that they needed. However, the legislation that ultimately triumphed, and which this bill today would extend, is a disgrace to the United States constitution. By passing this bill today, we are compromising the Bill of Rights. We are telling Americans that no matter what your business is, you are subject to the unscrupulous, undisciplined, irresponsible scrutiny of the Attorney General and others without court intervention. This is not the day to play politics. It is too important to balance civil liberties along with the homeland security and the protection needs of America. I feel confident that the House FISA Bill does do that. I am disheartened by the other body for their failure to recognize that we can secure America by securing the American people with fair security laws and by giving them their civil liberties. I find the Senate language extremely troublesome, and I am extremely disappointed that we could not reach common ground based on the original language passed by this House. I would ask my colleagues to defeat this so that we can go back to the bill that protects the civil liberties of Americans and provides homeland security. I ask my colleagues to support the Bill of Rights and National Security. Had the Bush Administration and the Republican-dominated 109th Congress acted more responsibly in the 2 preceding years, we would not be in the position of debating legislation that has such a profound impact on the national security and on American values and civil liberties in the crush of exigent circumstances. More often that not, it is true as the saying goes that haste makes waste. Madam Speaker, the legislation before us is intended to fill a gap in the Nation's intelligence gathering capabilities identified by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, by amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA. But in reality it eviscerates the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and represents an unwarranted transfer of power from the courts to the Executive Branch and a Justice Department led by an Attorney General whose reputation for candor and integrity is, to put it charitably, subject to considerable doubt. 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 or substantially amended. But given the claimed exigent circumstances by the Administration, let me briefly discuss some of the changes to FISA I am prepared to support on a temporary basis, not to exceed 120 days. To give a detailed illustration of just how superior the RESTORE Act, which the House passed October, 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. First, I am prepared to accept temporarily obviating the need to obtain a court order for foreign-to-foreign communications that pass through the United States. But I do insist upon individual warrants, based on probable cause, when surveillance is directed at people in the United States. 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. There should be an initial 15-day emergency authority so that international surveillance can begin while the warrants are being considered by the Court. And there must also be congressional oversight, requiring the Department of Justice Inspector General to conduct an audit every 60 days of U.S. person communications intercepted under these warrants, to be submitted to the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees. Finally, as I have stated, this authority must be of short duration and must expire by its terms in 120 days. 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 nothing on the public record about the nature and effectiveness of those programs, or the trustworthiness of this Administration, to indicate that they require any legislative response, other than to reaffirm the exclusivity of FISA and insist that it be followed. This could have been accomplished in the 109th Congress by passing H.R. 5371, the ``Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA Act,'' ``LISTEN Act,'' which I have co-sponsored with the then Ranking Members of the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, Mr. Conyers and Ms. Harman. The Bush administration has not complied 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 not necessary. The bill which a majority of the House voted to pass last year is more than sufficient to address the intelligence gathering deficiency identified by Director McConnell. That bill, H.R. 3356, provided ample amount of congressional authorization needed to ensure that our intelligence professionals have the tools that they need to protect our Nation, while also safeguarding the rights of law-abiding Americans. That is why I supported H.R. 3356, but cannot support H.R. 5104. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting against the unwise and ill-considered reauthorization of the Protect America Act of 2007.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished manager of this legislation and vice chairman of our caucus. Madam Speaker, the United States, the American people asked us to act, and I'm proud today to rise and to support the kind of stimulus that provides opportunity not only for those who you would expect or those who are argued for, but the working men and women, middle-income Americans in my congressional district in Houston making less than $50,000, allowing them to get either $600 as a single person, $1,200 as a family, and $300 as a married couple. The most important aspect is that economists estimate that each dollar of broad tax cuts leads to $1.26 in economic growth. But I hope that we will look to the addition of food stamps, summer job programs, and extension of the unemployment. And we must have the language, I hope, in the final bill, a sense of Congress that there should be a moratorium on foreclosures that are happening in America today; 2.4 million foreclosures expected in this coming year. It is imperative that we give a sense that these individuals can reconstruct their loans and survive. This is a package that is needed for America. I ask my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of the Recovery Rebate 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 $145.9 billion into the economy in 2008, over two-thirds of which will come in the form of tax rebate checks, given directly to individuals and families. However, while I support this legislation, I would like to express my concern about some of this bill's omissions. I 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 like 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 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 like to see included in the final economic stimulus package. I believe it should include 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 cannot 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. Under the strain of current financial circumstances, I believe that we must bolster these important programs. 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. 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 percent chance of recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rose from 4.7 to 5.0 percent 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 subprime 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 subprime 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 to 2006 through foreclosure on subprime 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 5 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. Seventeen million households, or one in seven, spend more than 50 percent 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 percent 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 117 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 $109 billion over 10 years. The packages includes tax cuts for 117 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 $28 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 5-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 1-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. [Discussion Draft] Amendment to H.R. __ Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following new section:

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today on the floor of the House the Members had to address a number of crises that this Nation is facing. It is interesting that we face delay and, if you will, obstruction on many of the issues that the American people want us to be engaged in. I am hoping that the economic stimulus package will move as quickly as possible, and when it comes back in its final form from the Senate and conference, that we will be assured that the individuals who are disabled and on Social Security also get a rebate, and that we have the sense of the Congress language that a moratorium should be in place for all of those individuals subject to subprime loans or on the brink of foreclosure and losing their homes. We must forge a pathway for the financial industry to begin to allow people to reconstruct their loans. Lastly, we voted today to extend FISA. The bill that we passed out of the Judiciary Committee under John Conyers' leadership is a good bill. I voted reluctantly for the extension, but we must pass a bill that protects civil rights and protects the national security of America.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 832, Honoring the Texas Water Development Board on its selection as a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving Fund Performance and Innovation Award, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Texas, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson. This important legislation recognizes the exceptional work done by the Texas Water Development Board in its efforts to be an environmental innovator and for its vast contributions to the great State of Texas. On November 5, 2007 the Texas Water Development Board was honored at the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities annual conference in Denver, Colorado. Subsequently, this mark of distinction produced a major environmental victory. The Texas Water Development Board agency is distinguished for its exceptional regional water planning activities, finest administration practices in nonpoint source pollution endowment, the instream flow program, and funding of water reuse projects amongst other notable achievements. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund in Texas has lucratively granted communities nearly $4,300,000,000 in low-interest loans to finance 472 water infrastructure projects across the State of Texas. This initiative serves about one-half of the population of Texas and provides direct environmental and public health benefits. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I urge that Congress recognize the magnitude of the Texas Water Development Board's satisfactory investment and management of water resources in sustainable development, including environmental integrity, human health, and overall quality of life in the United States. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman, the chairman of the subcommittee that I have the privilege of serving on, the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism on the House Judiciary Committee. I thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Conyers, the ranking member on the full committee and the ranking member on the subcommittee for having two important initiatives, and I speak to the underlying bill which addresses the question of death in custody, H.R. 3971. I, too, want to applaud the fact that the existence of this legislation is a strong statement that, in spite of individuals being incarcerated in the criminal justice system, in the penal system, in the prison system, that there is a responsibility; one for the safety and security of those who are incarcerated, particularly, as well, that younger and younger individuals are going into our criminal justice system of which we hope to address as we look to these issues in the coming year, work that has already been done in this committee. We hope to see some of that legislation come to fruition. I do want to speak specifically, Madam Speaker, to the concerns that I see in the State of Texas. And it may be symbolic of many States, particularly large States that have a very large penal system and a criminal justice system, if you will, or incarceration rate, and say that this legislation, in addition to reporting or requiring reporting of the deaths and suggesting the ineligibility for funds, which I think is an important statement, some instances of holding the particular jurisdictional head responsible for some of, in this instance, the deaths of individuals held in their particular facilities. For example, about 3 weeks ago, in Houston, an individual was seen being neck-choked by a custodian in the Harris County jail in Harris County in Houston, Texas, and subsequently that inmate lost their life. This has been an increasing occurrence in the Harris County jail. And certainly there have been occurrences in the whole State system, but we have a county jail system which people are either held for trial or either they are actually serving their time there, and in the last decade we've had 106 deaths, plus, in the Harris County jail. Many of them have come about through the inability to secure medicine, to secure medical care. One instance is an individual in his own pool of blood, and the, if you will, caretaker, the guard, was asked to get relief and he said, What do you expect for me to do, get a Band-Aid? So in some instances the deaths are caused because of such horrific occurrences, such egregious occurrences that there seems to be a necessity for additional penalties. So I would rise to support this initiative, H.R. 3971, for the good work that it has already done, look forward to working with the chairperson of the subcommittee and the full committee Chair as we move toward the Senate to ensure that this bill, in and of itself, becomes law, because I think it's an important statement, but also it's a statement that saves lives. It is so tragic to hear from wives and mothers, fathers of those incarcerated. These individuals have families. And I know that the existence or the presence that they have in the jail system means that there have been charges. Some of them in the local jails are being held for trial, so, therefore, they have not been convicted. We owe, as a civilized Nation, the kind of incarcerated presence that allows people to live, to be tried by the judicial system, but to allow them to live unless rendered another judgment by that system. So I think it is key that we look at whether or not the actions are egregious as we proceed to report on or receive reports made by our State Attorney General and others. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3971, the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Virginia, Representative Bobby Scott. This important legislation will require that any State that receives certain criminal justice assistance grants will be accountable to report the treatment of inmates to both the Attorney General and to Congress. How a government treats its detainees is a critical test for a nation's civility and maturity. How we treat detainees, especially the most vulnerable among them--detainees with medical conditions, be it pre-existing or one developed after they have been taken into custody-- is an important measure of how humane our entire justice system is. In the mid-1980s researcher and activist scrutiny of the death rate in the Nation's jails and prisons began to emerge. The research focused on criticism of jail and prison conditions from the 1960s to the 1980s. Studies such as the ``National Study of Jail Suicides: Seven Years Later,'' by Lindsay M. Hayes and Joseph R. Rowan in 1988, that examined the death rate in jails and prisons found very little reporting of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of prisoners. In fact by 1986, only 25 States and the District of Columbia even had jail inspection units. Moreover, even the States that did report deaths differed on basic reporting standards. For example, jurisdictions differed on the definition of ``custody,'' which made it difficult to determine whether a prisoner had died during arrest, in a jail before trial, or post conviction. The insufficient data and the lack of uniformity of the data collected made oversight of prisoner safety woefully inadequate. However, the study brought to light the potential that oversight had for improving conditions. The authors found that in the 1970s when there was little or no focus on deaths in custody, it had been unusual for a jail to be sued for negligence when a prisoner died in custody. But by the 1980s it was unusual for a jail not to be sued. The interest in oversight that emerged in the 1980s had shed light on conditions in state and local jails and began a rising tide of wrongful death litigation. The increasing litigation forced some measure of accountability and conditions somewhat improved. Moreover, activism and news of the litigation spurred media interest, which shed further light on conditions. In 1995, after conducting a 1-year investigation, the Asbury Park Press of New Jersey ran a series of award-winning editorials that brought the seriousness of the lack of reporting to the Nation's attention. Among the examples the Asbury Park Press highlighted was the story of Elmer Johnson of Charleston, MO. Mr. Johnson died in a jail cell after he was arrested for ``failing to obey a police officer.'' The coroner ruled Mr. Johnson's death a suicide but evidence to the contrary raised doubts. The editorials went on to detail abuses including racism, overzealous police interrogations, coverups and general police incompetence, which prompted congressional action. Congress has a responsibility to investigate this issue and call for reforms in order to ensure that dignity and respect for all human beings in our immigration detention system is preserved. Following successive bills being introduced by Representative Scott of Virginia and Representative Hutchinson of Arkansas in several Congresses, the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2000 was passed. The law required States receiving grants to comply with reporting requirements established by the Attorney General. Since the enactment of the act, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, BJS, has compiled a number of statistics detailing not only the circumstances of prisoner deaths but the rates of deaths in prisons vs. jails and the rates of deaths based on the sizes of the various facilities. With the detailed statistical data, policy makers, both State and Federal, can make informed policy judgments about the treatment of prisoners, leading to great success in lowering the prisoner death rate. In fact, since the focus on deaths in custody emerged in the mid- 1980s, the latest BJS report, dated August 2005, shows a 64 percent decline in suicides and a 93 percent decline in the homicide rate, which suggests that oversight measures such as the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act play an important role in ensuring the safety and security of prisoners who are in the custody of State facilities. However, no actual study has been conducted to ascertain whether there is indeed a cause and effect between the oversight and decreasing death rate, and H.R. 2908 contained no provision to fund such a study. Therefore, to ascertain whether the cause and effect exists and how to make the most effective use of the statistical data, my good friend and colleague, Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Forbes have introduced H.R. 3971, the Death in Custody Act of 2007, of which I am a proud cosponsor. This revised legislation is imperative to ensuring that there is justice within our justice system. H.R. 3971 includes all aspects of H.R. 2908 but also authorizes $500,000 for a study to determine whether the strengthened oversight has in fact led to or at least assisted the decreasing death rate among prisoners. H.R. 3971 is thus an improvement over H.R. 2908 in that with analysis accompanying the statistical data, we can make yet further informed decisions about policy and oversight. Congress has a responsibility to investigate this issue and call for reforms in order to ensure that dignity and respect for all human beings in our immigration detention system is preserved. This legislation will hold States responsible to report to the Attorney General on a quarterly basis regarding the death of any person who is under arrest or is in the process of being arrested, en route to incarceration, or incarcerated in State or local facilities. It furthermore imposes penalties on States that fail to comply with such reporting requirements and consequently will ensure that both the Attorney General and the Congress stay informed on the deaths of any and all persons in custody. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in supporting the Death in Custody Act of 2007. Passage of H.R. 3971 would be the start of a long overdue process to eliminate unnecessary mistreatment of prisoners. Might I just quickly acknowledge H.R. 3992, with the indulgence of the Speaker, to applaud the, hoping, passage of this legislation that deals with mental health. And let me just say one small point about the mental health circumstance, and that is that the crisis of mental health is seen across America. There are so many circumstances where individuals suffering from severe schizophrenia and others are caught in the criminal justice system, or unfortunately are called to the home and confront the law enforcement system as opposed to the mental health system, and that is before, of course, these individuals are incarcerated. This has to do with offenders who are suffering from mental illness, but I wanted to at least speak to the point that those who don't get to the system because they are confronted through the police system and unfortunately will lose their lives. What do elderly persons do when a son or daughter is suffering from mental illness and, unfortunately, has a breakdown in the house and reacts violently? It is to call the police. And so in addition to this very fine bill that deals with improving mental health services for offenders so that when they come out they are ready to adjust to the society in which they return, we also want to look forward to the idea of providing resources for training of law enforcement that we've discussed extensively in our subcommittee on crime to help these people be advisedly trained to deal with this. I cite as an example the desire by our local jurisdiction to, or the request being made by our local jurisdiction, to pay an extra incentive fee for those police officers that would take mental health training so that they could be on a team, a task force to be called out when that would occur. Unfortunately, the overall response by the city government was not enough money. I think we should have enough money to save lives and, hopefully, innovative legislation like H.R. 3992 sets the pace for those new and innovative ideas on addressing the question of mental illness among offenders who are incarcerated, but also that we address many of the other questions that hopefully we'll have the opportunity to address. So it is my distinct pleasure to be able to rise to support the underlying bill, H.R. 3971, and as well the previous bill, H.R. 3992. And I thank the chairman for his leadership. And I think the criminal justice system will be better for the passage of these two initiatives. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3992, the Mentally III Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Virginia, Representative Robert Scott. This bipartisan legislation is designed to increase public safety by enabling coordination between the criminal justice and mental health care systems to increase treatment among this segment of the population. The enormous growth in the national prison population has intensified the problems presented by the needs of mentally ill inmates. Frequently, mentally ill defendants are inappropriately placed into criminal or juvenile corrections facilities, and the harmful impact that this has on the individual and society is reflected in increased recidivism rates, wasted administrative costs, and superfluous overcrowding of corrections facilities, among other things. Among the utmost dilemmas involved in managing the mentally ill prisoners is that correctional staffing is seldom at an adequate level to supervise and care for these prisoners, and correctional officers in many state prisons have never received training in working with the mentally ill. The Bureau of Justice reported that in 1998 over 280,000 individuals in jail or prison and approximately 550,000 of those on probation had a mental impairment. The mentally ill are disproportionately represented in jails and prisons. Five percent of all Americans have a serious mental illness, but 16 to 20 percent of incarcerated individuals have a mental impairment. Any individual who is enrolled in a juris doctorate program is familiar with two key terms in criminal law, Actus Reas and Mens Rea. Actus Reas is associated with the guilty act, while Mens Rea is associated with the guilty mind. Both elements are required to achieve a successful conviction in our criminal law system. Mental health offenders may have committed the physical, guilty act, but they are incapable of having the mind capacity to commit the crime. The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty. The prevalence of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system has been the subject of many recent studies. The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics reported last July that at least 16 percent of the U.S. prison population is seriously mentally ill. The highest rate of reported serious mental illness is among white female inmates, at 29 percent. For white females age 24 or younger, this level rises to almost 40 percent. The American Jail Association estimates that 600,000 to 700,000 people suffering from serious mental illness are being booked into jail each year. The National Alliance for the Mentally III reports that on any given day, at least 284,000 schizophrenic and manic depressive individuals and manic depressive individuals are incarcerated, while only 187,000 seriously mentally ill individuals are in mental health facilities. Additionally, there are approximately 547,800 seriously mentally ill people who are currently on probation. These statistics seem to indicate that the mentally ill are unjustifiably burdening the criminal justice system. There is a dire need for resources that will provide vital resolutions to the crisis, expand diversion programs, community-based treatment, re-entry services, and improved treatment during incarceration. The reauthorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 recognizes that true partnerships between the mental health and criminal and juvenile corrections systems and between the Federal and State Governments are needed to meet these challenges. Indeed, this bill requires that Federal funds authorized under this program be supplemented with contributions from the States, local governments, and tribal organizations. Madam Speaker, Congress has an obligation to legislate to protect the community from those who become aggressive or violent because of mental illness. We also have a responsibility to see that the offender receives the proper treatment for his or her illness. Far too often, mental illness goes undiagnosed, and many in our prison system would do better in alternative settings designed to handle their particular needs. In Texas, past treatment of mentally ill offenders illustrates the need for legislation such as H.R. 3992. Senior U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice, who is experienced in dealing with mentally ill prisoners in Texas, ruled in 1980 that the Texas prison system is unconstitutional and placed it under Federal control for 30 years. In Judge Justice's estimation, the Texas laws that apply to the mentally ill ``lack compassion and emphasize vengeance.'' KPFT news reported him as having said, We have allowed the spirit of vengeance such unrivaled sway in our dealings with those who commit crime that we have ceased to consider properly whether we have taken adequate account of the role that mental impairment may play in the determination of moral responsibility. As a result, we punish those who we cannot justly blame. Such result is not, I believe worthy of a civil society. This legislation in an important first step towards restructuring a system that has operated in a disjointed and unsympathetic manner for far too long. We must continue to make this legislation adequately effective to preserve the lives of defendants who are actually victims. I am proud to support this legislation and I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and calling for the appropriate treatment and recognition of mentally ill offenders.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have risen several times on the floor of the House to encourage my colleagues to consider the mortgage crisis when we talk about an economic stimulus package. It is well known that an economic stimulus package should stimulate and it should be driven by existing law. But there is no reason why we cannot find a connector for a 90-day moratorium, a moratorium on those who are about to go over the brink and provide a freeze on those adjustable rates. An economic stimulus package is to stimulate. What more stimulation than for people to keep their homes and pay their mortgages. Might I also say that as the mortgage collapse goes, then families are subject to not having their children covered by the SCHIP program. The debate today will be enormously important because it will cost less than $3.50 a day to provide for these children. And as well, it will help States all over the Nation, including the 1 million children in Texas that no longer have health insurance because of this horrific veto. We need a stimulus package that provides people with housing and a stimulus package that takes care of our children.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise vigorously to oppose the President's veto because of the 1 million children in Texas and the City of Houston that will be left out in the cold without health care. Madam Speaker, as the chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I rise to announce that I will proudly cast my vote in support of overriding the Presidential veto of H.R. 3963, the ``Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007.'' I rise in strong support of this legislation because I am listening, and responding to the will of the American people. Last November 2006, Americans went to polls by the millions united in their resolve to vote for change. They voted for a new direction and a change in the Bush administration's disastrous neglect of the real needs of the American people, particularly children who lack health insurance through no fault of their own. The new Democratic majority heard them and responded by passing H.R. 976, ``State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007.'' The President vetoed the bill, basing his decision on the absurd and laughable claim that the program was thinly disguised ``socialized medicine'' and that it was too costly to provide health insurance for America's needy children. The President's senseless veto of the SCHIP bill suggests that this administration is operating under the misimpression that it is entitled to a continuation of the ancien regime under which the Republican-led Congress look askance and gave the President a blank check to mismanage the affairs of our Nation. Following the President's first veto, the bill was revised to meet a number of concerns raised by the President including ensuring lower-income children are enrolled first and ensuring benefits are denied to illegal immigrants. While the bill again passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 265 to 142, moving to the Senate where it passed by a veto-proof 64 to 30, the President again vetoed the bill and, in so doing, denied health care to millions of deserving American children. No matter how many veto threats the President issues, this Congress is not going to give him a blank check to escalate and continue the war in Iraq or to ignore the pressing domestic needs of the American people. It is long past time for change in Iraq and in the direction of the United States. Just as the people and Government of Iraq must accept responsibility for their own country, the people's representatives in Congress must take the lead in addressing the real problems of real Americans living in the real world. H.R. 3963 is a necessary step in the right direction because it provides dependable and stable funding for children's health insurance under Titles XXI and XIX of the Social Security Act in order to enroll all 6 million uninsured children who are eligible for coverage today, but not enrolled. That is why I strongly support this legislation. Madam Speaker, next to the Iraq war, there is no more important issue facing the Congress, the President, and the American people than the availability of affordable health care for all Americans, especially children. This bipartisan SCHIP bill is supported by an astounding 81 percent of the American people and the majority of Congress. By vetoing the bipartisan SCHIP Authorization Act, the President vetoed the will of the American people. By vetoing that legislation, the President turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the loud message sent by the American people last November. I voted to override the President's veto because I can think of few goals more important than ensuring that our children have access to health coverage. I voted to override the President's veto because I put the needs of America's children first. texas children I am extremely pleased to know that the children in the State of Texas stand to benefit tremendously from the SCHIP Reauthorization Act. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the Nation, and Harris County the highest in the State. The bill goes a long way to provide coverage for the 585,500 children enrolled in Texas's CHIP program; and to reach the 998,000 children in families with incomes under the 200 percent Federal Poverty Level, FPL, who remain uninsured. Madam Speaker, this important legislation commits $50 billion to reauthorize and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, and cover the 6 million children who meet its eligibility criteria. Madam Speaker, SCHIP was created in 1997, with broad bipartisan support, to address the critical issue of the large numbers of children in our country without access to healthcare. It serves the children of working families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but who either are not able to afford health insurance or whose parents hold jobs without healthcare benefits. Children without health insurance often forgo crucial preventative treatment. They cannot go to the doctor for annual checkups or to receive treatment for relatively minor illnesses, allowing easily treatable ailments to become serious medical emergencies. They must instead rely on costly emergency care. This has serious health implications for these children, and it creates additional financial burdens on their families, communities, and the entire Nation. This year alone, 6 million children are receiving healthcare as a result of CHIP. However, stopgap funding for this visionary program expires November 16. Congress must act now to ensure that these millions of children can continue to receive quality, affordable health insurance. As chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I can think of few goals more important than ensuring that our children have access to health coverage. It costs us less than $3.50 a day to cover a child through CHIP. For this small sum, we can ensure that a child from a working family can receive crucial preventative care, allowing them to be more successful in school and in life. Without this program, millions of children will lose health coverage, further straining our already tenuous healthcare safety net. Additionally, through this legislation, we have an opportunity to make health care even more available to America's children. The majority of uninsured children are currently eligible for coverage, either through CHIP or through Medicaid. We must demonstrate our commitment to identifying and enrolling these children, through both increased funding and a campaign of concerted outreach. This legislation provides States with the tools and incentives they need to reach these unenrolled children without expanding the program to make more children eligible. In my home State of Texas, as of June 2006, SCHIP was benefiting 293,000 children. This is a decline of over 33,000 children from the previous year. We must continue to work to ensure that all eligible children can participate in this important program. To this end, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed legislation in June which, among other things, creates a community outreach campaign for SCHIP. In addition to reauthorizing and improving the SCHIP program, this legislation also protects and improves Medicare. Due to a broken payment formula, access to medical services for senior citizens and people with disabilities is currently in jeopardy. Physicians who provide healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries face a 10 percent cut in their reimbursement rates next year, with the prospect of further reductions in years to come looming on the horizon. The budget proposed by the Bush administration does not help these doctors, or the patients that they serve. This revised bipartisan legislation addresses the concerns raised by President Bush's first veto. These revisions include ensuring that only children in families with gross incomes below $51,500 for a family of three will receive SCHIP coverage, consequently addressing the President's concern that upper-income children do not receive coverage. Furthermore, this revised legislation will require that lowest income children are served first by requiring States to enroll the lowest income first in order to receive bonus payments. This bill will also phase out the coverage of childless adults in SCHIP over 1 year, as opposed to the 2-year coverage phase out in the original bill. And finally, this bill ensures that only citizens and legal immigrants receive coverage by providing that if the Social Security Administration is unable to confirm the citizenship of the applicant, the applicant will be required to provide the State with additional documentation to confirm eligibility. If passing the Senate with a veto-proof margin was not enough to stop President Bush from once again vetoing SCHIP, then the alleviation of all his problems and issues with the previous version should ensure that this bipartisan revision of the legislation stands. This is extremely important legislation providing for the health coverage of 6 million low-income children, as well as protecting the health services available to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. President Bush was wrong to veto this legislation. I stand strong with the children of America in voting to reauthorize this program. I urge all members to join so that we pass the bill with a veto-proof majority.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 198, expressing the sense of Con- gress that the United States has a moral responsibility to meet the needs of those persons, groups and communities that are impoverished, disadvantaged or otherwise in poverty, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative Barbara Lee. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-founder of the Out of Poverty Caucus, has articulated a national goal to reduce poverty by 50 percent over the next 10 years. This legislation is an imperative instrument in addressing the ongoing endemic that is poverty in America. Approximately 36.5 million American citizens, 12.3 percent of United States population, live in poverty. The incidence of destitution is associated with race and ethnicity, location, family composition, age, and education. America has allowed poverty to fall off the national agenda. In a nation as industrial and prominent as the United States, it seems paradoxical to have such high levels of poverty. During the 1960s, when President Johnson made poverty a national concern, policies and programs were created to set into motion a series of bills and acts which ``brought about real results, reduced rates of poverty, and improved living standards for America's poor.'' Madam Speaker, it is essential that this Congress satisfies the needs of Americans who are impoverished, disadvantaged, or otherwise in poverty; this legislation requires that we acknowledge that responsibility. While poverty is believed by some to be a statistical phenomenon, it is in fact a daily reality for millions of Americans. Policy proposals addressing poverty have not kept pace with the needs of millions of Americans. The measure of poverty is simple but rather crude. Poverty cannot be accurately evaluated until we can essentially comprehend the number of people in poverty. When Mollie Orshansky, renowned economist and statistician, defined the poverty line in the 1960s, she used a farm family living in the 1950s as her model, nevertheless times have changed. In this day and age, an income of $20,000 is not sufficient for a family of four to survive. Journalist Barbara Ehreinreht worked alongside the ``near poor'' in her nonfiction piece ``Nickel and Dimed.'' Ten years ago, a family in her book earned $40,000 a year cumulatively, but was still unable to afford suitable housing. An annual income of $20,000 in 1950 and $40,000 in 1998 for a family of four is ``unpretentious.'' Technology has advanced, times have changed, the price of living is constantly rising, and those factors, along with many others should be used to evaluate how a family can survive. Many impoverished individuals are believed to be able to return to self-sufficiency with 12-18 months of assistance and affordable housing. Since its conception, welfare has caused countless economic, political, psychological, and sociological effects that have shaped American society, produced innumerable reforms and depicted its recipients as irresponsible agents of self- inflicted poverty. In 1996, the Republican-led Congress introduced welfare reform. If the objective was to reduce the number of people on the welfare rolls, it worked; however, poverty did not decline. The central goal that needs to be established is how to decrease poverty while simultaneously placing welfare recipients in a position to maintain an existence above the poverty line after assistance. Welfare is not a substantial economic alternative; in no state do welfare disbursements alone lift a family above the poverty line. The Federal Government must play a vital role in revitalizing and restoring opportunities for Americans to reach the American dream. Congress is morally obligated to provide better services to meet the needs of its citizens; nevertheless, the quality of the services for various groups differs greatly. The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated that sub-par services are readily available to minorities. While many existing organizations have worked to help those displaced, and some new groups and special efforts have been initiated, the survivors of Hurricane Katrina are still largely disorganized and deprived. In the United States, the incidence of poverty is associated with race and ethnicity, location, family composition, age, and education. Three years ago, the criticisms of the Government's response to Hurricane Katrina generally consisted of condemnations of negligence and lack of leadership in the relief efforts in response to the storm and its aftermath. Currently, the principal criticism is the long overdue assistance for the poverty-stricken. The U.S. has a higher sense of poverty and a visible phenomenon of poverty than any other country. Internationally, the United States poverty rate at the turn of the 21st century ranked 24th of 25 countries, with only Mexico having a higher percentage rate. This important piece of legislation will recognize the continuing need of many Americans. This is extremely significant in the sense that it will assist those who desire upward mobility and believe in the ``American Dream.'' This is an unprecedented step forward for impoverished Americans and I applaud this legislation for this significant first step towards helping American realize their dreams. As we celebrate Dr. King's birthday, we also commemorate the 40th anniversary of King's Poor People's Campaign which, through nonviolent direct action, King hoped to focus the Nation's attention on economic inequality and poverty. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this extremely important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was here on the floor last week reminding my colleagues as my intention is to continue to emphasize those who have been hurt by the economic recession, the downtrend in our financial markets, that they are, in fact, real people. So, in the course of visiting my district and around the country, we have met individuals who are suffering. Today, I met an Iraqi veteran whose parents have built their home brick by brick, and now they find that their homestead, these senior citizens, their son in Iraq, is having their house foreclosed on. I met an elderly woman, a widow, whose husband was deceased 7 years ago. She's trying to pay the costliness of the heating oil and now is being called by her bank that her home, because of her delinquent payments, will be foreclosed on. It is imperative I believe that an economic stimulus package include a moratorium on foreclosures in order to ensure that those individuals can reconstruct their loans. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative it is a stimulus to help people keep their homes.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3432, the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade of 2007, which I am proud, along with over 95 of my colleagues, to cosponsor. This legislation recognizes the 200th anniversary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and it establishes the rubric from which the Commission, to be known as the ``Transatlantic Slave Trade 200th Anniversary Commission,'' shall be formed. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Congressman Payne, for introducing this important legislation, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Lantos, for his leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, though 200 years have passed since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, the legacy of slavery continues to have a profound impact on American society. The legacy of social and economic disparity lives on, as do hatred, bias, and discrimination. Despite two centuries of progress, the African American community continues to feel the impact of the transatlantic slave trade, and subsequent years of racism and persecution. While our Nation has pursued the ideals of liberty and equality for all, there still remain steps that must be taken in order to ensure that even such a dark piece of our Nation's history be preserved and its conclusion at the hand of President Thomas Jefferson be celebrated. Madam Speaker, the bill before us establishes a commission to cultivate and preserve the memory of a grave injustice in American history: we must recognize and in some small way try to rectify our past. In the early years of the Republic, the transatlantic slave trade constituted a thriving economic vein of the United States. By 1807, millions of Africans had been captured and transported to the Americas, many perishing as the result of torture, rape, malnutrition, and disease. It was not until March of 1807 that President Thomas Jefferson signed into law ``An Act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States,'' a Congressionally approved bill intended to end the heinous practice of the transatlantic slave trade. It is in commemoration of President Jefferson's revolutionary act, and to explore further the impacts of the slave trade on our Nation that H.R. 3432 establishes the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission. This important commission will be composed of 11 congressionally appointed members charged with the task of planning, developing, and executing programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Though the Senate amendments to this bill strike the appropriation of funds for this important legislation, I still feel that this is an imperative first step in the right direction. While I am disappointed that the Senate did not see fit to allocate the necessary funds to see the formation of this unprecedented commission to fruition, I remain supportive of the significant mission of this legislation and hope to see it through to its completion. January 1, 2008, marked the 200th anniversary of the ``Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves.'' The United States today serves as a moral compass for the rest of the world and as such we must provide a voice for human trafficking issues. Our willingness to confront our Nation's past and to address the impacts of the slave trade and its legacy on the United States strengthens our undeterred commitment to serving as an advocate for human rights and freedom in the international community. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 866, introduced by my distinguished colleague from North Carolina, Representative Coble, honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless work, dedication, and commitment to protecting the United States have led to the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea during 2007, far surpassing all of our previous records. This bipartisan legislation honors the Coast Guard's important 217-year legacy of protecting American borders and enforcing the laws of the sea. The maritime safety laws of this country were written in understanding and appreciation of the peril which mariners face when they get on a ship, go out to sea, whether on the saltwater or the fourth coastline of this country, the Great Lakes. Americans put their trust every day in the Coast Guard to regulate safety on ferry boats and other types of vessels conveying passengers, or on liquefied natural gas tankers that come into our ports. We have to ensure that the Coast Guard will get their full funding needed to carry out those responsibilities. The United States Coast Guard is the smallest of the seven uniformed services of the United States. Their mission is to protect the public, environment, and the economic and security interest of the United States' coasts, ports, and inland waterways. During the Coast Guard's 217-year legacy of border protection and maritime law enforcement, modern technologies have made their job more perilous. This, however, has not deterred our Nation's brave young men and women from conducting the dangerous duty of drug interdiction. In 2007, the Coast Guard seized more than 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea. The street value of this seizure is worth over an estimated $4.7 billion. The sum is nearly one-half of the Coast Guard's annual budget. The Coast Guard's at-sea drug seizures have reduced the supply of cocaine in more than 35 major cities across the United States, consequently making a positive difference in our American communities. This important legislation recognizes the overwhelming contributions of the Coast Guard to the American community. It furthermore applauds the Coast Guard for their commitment to participating as part of a robust interagency team and international partners that has contributed to the seizure over 2 million pounds of cocaine in the past 10 years. I commend the men and women of the Coast Guard, who spend countless hours at sea away from their families while they unremittingly work to execute their service's mission. I acknowledge the commitment and selfless service required to protect our Nation and the American people done by Coast Guard men and women without want of public recognition. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and, in so doing, giving our men and women in uniform the respect and recognition they deserve.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3524, to reauthorize the ``HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative Maxine Waters. This important legislation will reauthorize and make changes to the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program. I would like to thank Congresswoman Waters for her consistent and dedicated work on this important issue, as well as to commend Chairman Frank for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today. Madam Chairman, this legislation reauthorizes, with important changes, the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program. Among other provisions, it provides for the retention of public housing units, protects residents from disruptions resulting from the grant, increases resident involvement, and improves the efficiency and expediency of construction. The HOPE VI program, created in 1992, has worked to improve the Nation's most dilapidated public housing units by providing much needed resources to public housing agencies. These funds have directly benefited countless Americans, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, partnering with local agencies to improve conditions in public housing units and communities. In December, we were reminded of the existing problems in our Nation's public housing systems when protesters in New Orleans skirmished with police in New Orleans, as the City Council unanimously voted to destroy 4,500 public housing units. I was appalled that, in the holiday season, the citizens of New Orleans and survivors of Hurricane Katrina were put in a position in which they had to fight to keep a roof over their heads. The residents of New Orleans who saw their homes and livelihoods destroyed by natural disaster two years ago are far from alone in their need for improved public housing; citizens across the country are feeling the acute need for the housing reform delivered by this bill. My home city of Houston faces unique challenges and opportunities. One of the most important of which is dealing with the impact of taking in nearly 200,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees, an unprecedented act of generosity for which Houston is famous. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, nearly 2 million people live in Houston, the fourth largest city in America. When the metropolitan area is taken into account, the population swells to approximately 5.2 million. The Houston metropolitan grew in population by more than 950,000 people between 1990 and 2000. Madam Chairman, according to the American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the Census Bureau, there are 859,245 total housing units in the City of Houston, of which 748,323 are occupied--347,865 are occupied by owners (2.5 percent vacancy rate) and 400,458 by renters (11.8 percent vacancy rate). Though the average cost of housing and rent in Houston is low by national standards, Houston residents still face a problem when it comes to affordable housing. According to a 2006 study by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 28.4 percent of Houston homeowners and 51 percent of renters in the Houston metropolitan area spend more than 30 percent of their monthly pre-tax income on housing costs. This makes them ``housing-cost burdened'' as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Fully a quarter of Houston renters are ``severely housing-cost burdened,'' meaning they pay more than 50 percent of their income in housing costs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition, in its report Out of Reach in 2006, estimates that in order to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at the FMR, a renter would have to earn $14.77 an hour, more than two and on-half times the minimum wage. The affordability crisis is most pronounced among Houston's poorest and disabled households. Among the 83,367 renter households in Houston with incomes below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)--or approximately $18,500 in the Houston metropolitan area--more than half, 56 percent, of them spend more than half of their gross income on housing. Another 1 in 6 devotes more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing. Moreover, there is little federally subsidized housing available to those in need. The Housing Authority's waiting list for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers now has been closed for three years and there are still more than 10,000 people on the list. The average wait time is between 18 months and two years. It is estimated that more than 12,000 people are homeless on any given night in Houston: 6,583 of them are unsheltered and 3,600 of them are chronically homeless. Madam Chairman, I support this legislation because it will begin to address the serious housing problems we face in our own local communities, and as a nation. Among its many important provisions, this legislation requires that all public housing units proposed for demolition be replaced on a one-to- one basis, guaranteeing the total availability of public housing. This requirement will serve to protect low income residents under fair housing laws. Further, a mixed-income housing development must be provided on the site of the original public housing location and all replacement housing units must be located in a mixed-income community. The bill requires a third of the units in this development must be public housing units, with limited exceptions. Public housing agencies can build additional units on the site provided the provision of these units does not violate fair housing laws and the number of additional units is determined in consultation with residents, community leaders, and local government officials. Remaining units must be built in the jurisdiction of the public housing agency in low poverty areas and in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing. The bill provides displaced residents with three housing choices: (a) a revitalized unit on the site of the original public housing location; (b) a revitalized unit in the jurisdiction of the public housing agency; or (c) a housing choice voucher, which can be used in areas with lower concentrations of poverty. Public housing residents of the revitalized developments must, under the provisions of this bill, be subject to the same screening criteria used for all public housing units. This legislation also mandates adequate oversight, requiring public housing agencies to monitor and track all households affected by the HOPE VI revitalization plan. In addition, public housing agencies must develop a temporary relocation plan that provides comparable housing for all relocated residents, protects residents in transitioning to the private rental market with housing choice vouchers, provides for housing opportunities in 7 neighborhoods with lower concentrations of poverty, and extends the voucher search time to 150 days. Madam Chairman, this legislation also provides for the active involvement and participation of residents in the grant planning process, including public hearings and four notices to residents on (a) the intent to apply for a HOPE VI grant, (b) grant award and relocation options, (c) grant agreement and relocation options, and (d) replacement housing. The bill includes several provisions designed to increase the rate at which HOPE VI developments are constructed, which will help reduce the time tenants are relocated. The bill requires all new housing to be rebuilt within 12 months from the allocation of low-income housing tax credits or, for those grants that do not use tax credits, within 12 months of demolition or disposition. The bill waives the grant matching requirement for HOPE VI applicants in areas recovering from natural disasters or emergencies. This further helps these communities recover quickly and efficiently. Grantees that do not meet performance benchmarks will be penalized. Finally, I would like to draw attention to requirements in this legislation mandating that all replacement housing and other structures part of the HOPE VI development to comply with certain energy-efficient green building standards. This Congress has made protecting the environment a priority, and I am pleased to see this provision included in today's legislation. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this extremely important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3524, to reauthorize the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative Maxine Waters. This important legislation will reauthorize and make changes to the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program. I would like to thank Congresswoman Waters for her consistent and dedicated work on this important issue, as well as to commend Chairman Frank for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Chairman, this legislation reauthorizes, with important changes incorporated into the Manager's Amendment, the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program. Among other provisions, it provides for the retention of public housing units, protects residents from disruptions resulting from the grant, increases resident involvement, and improves the efficiency and expediency of construction. The HOPE VI program, created in 1992, has worked to improve the Nation's most dilapidated public housing units by providing much needed resources to public housing agencies. These funds have directly benefited countless Americans, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, partnering with local agencies to improve conditions in public housing units and communities. I also support the technical changes made by the Manager's Amendment, and I believe that they will ensure that this legislation works to the maximum benefit of all Americans. Mr. Chairman, because I believe that this is strong and positive legislation, and I would like to take this opportunity to address a number of amendments offered by my distinguished colleagues. I would like to express my support for the amendment introduced by my colleague, Mr. Mahoney. This amendment will restore the set-aside funds for the Main Street grant program. Mr. Chairman, this important program provides resources for the revitalization of older, downtown business districts, while retaining an area's historical character. The Main Street grant program enables smaller communities to develop affordable housing while still retaining their traditional identity and roots in the past. I believe that this program is very important to countless communities across the Nation, seeking to provide for their citizens without losing sight of their shared history. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. Mahoney's amendment to restore funding for this program to this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I also strongly support the amendment introduced by my colleague, Congresswoman Lee. This amendment will safeguard the rights of elderly and disabled tenants living in HOPE VI housing. Congresswoman Lee's amendment prohibits the eviction of elderly or disabled tenants based on the criminal activities of others, provided that the elderly or disabled tenant did not have knowledge of the criminal activity. This important amendment improves the underlying legislation by ensuring that disadvantaged members of our communities are not further victimized for events beyond their control. It allows Congress to stand up for the rights of those living in public housing, preventing the eviction of elderly and disabled residents as the result of the wrongdoing of family members. However, I must oppose several amendments that I feel will harm the integrity of this bill. I stand opposed to the amendment offered by my colleague and fellow Texan Mr. Neugebauer, limiting the number of dwelling units that housing agencies are required to replace. Under the provisions of this amendment, only those units that are occupied as of the date of the HOPE VI application must be replaced, rather than requiring that all units torn down through the use of HOPE VI grants be replaced on a one-to-one basis. I strongly oppose this change, because I believe it weakens the one-for-one requirement in this legislation by creating incentives for housing agencies to increase the number of vacant units prior to seeking a HOPE VI grant, to decrease the overall number of units that must be replaced. I encourage my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment, and in support of the underlying language. Mr. Chairman, I also must oppose the amendment offered by my colleague Mr. Sessions, reinstating the Department of Housing and Urban Development's authority to issue demolition-only grants. These grants, which have not been issued since 2003, provide resources for the demolition of properties and the relocation of families living there. While this legislation eliminates demolition-only grants, unless the demolition is done in connection with the replacement of dwelling units, ensuring that the total amount of units does not diminish. The adoption of this amendment would gut the strong replacement requirements of the underlying legislation, and would further reduce the already limited affordable housing stock in our nation. I also oppose the amendment offered by Congressman King of Iowa. This amendment would prohibit any amount authorized under this legislation from being used to pay wages in compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act. The adoption of this provision would in effect nullify the applicability of Davis-Bacon to the HOPE VI program. Mr. Chairman, the Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations are issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, and they indicate the prevailing wage rates in a region, to be paid on federally funded or assisted construction projects. These standards ensure that workers on Federal projects are paid a fair wage, and I believe it would be extremely detrimental to workers and to our economy as a whole to exempt HOPE VI projects from these standards. Mr. Chairman, I also stand in opposition to the amendment offered by my colleague Congresswoman Capito, eliminating the requirements that all grants must comply with minimum Green Building requirements. I believe today's legislation, as introduced, makes important steps forward toward responsible stewardship of our natural resources, and Ms. Capito's proposal that compliance with Green Building requirements be only one factor in the evaluation of grant applications would weaken our effort to protect our global environment. The Capito amendment would weaken the minimum standards for energy efficiency set forth in this bill, and would permit the Department of Housing and Urban Development to propose much weaker green development standards than are currently required under this bill. I urge my colleagues to oppose the Capito amendment, and to keep the language set forth by this legislation. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this extremely important legislation by protecting the integrity of the underlying language, while making the technical corrections included in the Manager's Amendment to ensure that the intent of the legislation can be enacted.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, yesterday we revisited the question of the Defense Authorization bill. I think it is important to remind my colleagues that in our appropriations bill that was passed and signed by the President, we took care of a number of issues dealing with our soldiers, including an increase in their compensation, including a recognition of traumatic brain injury, and a number of other concerns. This bill yesterday was a disappointment because it continued to include money for Iraq, and it is time to bring our soldiers home. I also want to commend the debate today on HOPE VI, another issue that addresses the issue of homelessness and those who are without homes. This legislation was provocative and important because it is an economic stimulus when you provide housing for those in public housing who cannot be housed. It is innovative because it suggests we should have green buildings, meaning more efficient, and it is innovative because it protects the elderly who may have those young people in their homes who have had some run-in with the law, that those individuals go but not the elderly who would be evicted. This is a good piece of legislation. I supported HOPE VI. I am disappointed I could not support the Defense Authorization bill.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on yesterday, January 16, in the rollcall vote No. 11, H.R. 4986, the defense authorization bill. If I had been present, because of the continued support of the Iraq war, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the remarks that my colleagues have made on the existence of an economic crisis and to ask this administration to wake up. I hope that we will do something to deal with the catastrophic subprime mortgage collapse, and that is to call for a moratorium on all foreclosures across America, those individuals who are behind in their payments and those who are in fact keeping up with their payments. Some response has to come. But I do want to step aside from the economic engine and the need for that to cite a situation that I think is drastic and, of course, a disaster, and that is the tragedy of the young marine, the young woman, who has now lost her life in North Carolina, and to ask the United States military what happens when a woman alleges sexual harassment, or, in this instance, rape. I think it is imperative that we have a system and a response that was not given to this young woman. Some years ago, the Women's Caucus, Republicans and Democrats, raised the question of sexual harassment that was permeating our United States military. They are too good for this and this must stop. I am saddened by her loss. I believe it could have been avoided. We need a response, and we need it now.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me offer my gratitude to Chairman Ackerman and to his cosponsor, Mr. Pence, and our chairman of the full committee, Mr. Lantos, for all of his leadership and certainly his recognition as a peacemaker as well, and to the ranking member, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. I rise today with a great degree of somberness and, to a certain extent, hopelessness. But I also rise to express my appreciation for the life and the legacy of Benazir Bhutto. I also want to offer a personal sympathy and acknowledgment to her husband, Mr. Zardari; her son, Bilawal; and her daughters, Bakhtwar and Aseefa, for our families mourn with you. And I think it is important in the backdrop of one of the greatest peacemakers' birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, to place former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in her rightful place. I am glad my colleagues called her a peacemaker. I call her a humanitarian and someone who was willing to sacrifice her own life to push the envelope of democracy. I hold in my hand the Washington Post today that has as a headline, ``Bhutto's last day in keeping with her driven life.'' It indicates a quote that I think speaks to her life. It says, ``Wake up, my brothers.'' That is why she was campaigning in such a frenzied manner. That is why she was waving to her constituents and fellow brothers and sisters as she left the place of her speech. So I think it is important for us to make the very important note that we should not victimize the victim. Her assassination was not her fault. Everyone in a pressing democracy wants the ability to communicate with those who you are trying to encourage to wake up. Today we honor that bravery, that courage. We say to the Pakistani Government, for this Nation to move forward, there must be an enlisted and entrenched commitment to democracy. There must be a full investigation of this assassination. It must be determined whether al Qaeda had others beyond its reach to be involved in what may have been a conspiracy. And yes, the leadership of the Pakistan Government must ensure the security of all candidates going forward for these elections. The elections must be ensured. But we must thank former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for her legacy; that she was not concerned about her own safety, that she wanted greatness and excellence for her country. I joined with President Clinton in a visit some years ago when we met President Musharraf, and there were great hopes that he would move his country towards democracy. There were times that occurred. Now he must show that he is sincere about this democracy and let the elections go forward and let a democratic leader emerge from this election. At the same time, he must of course make sure that the instruments of democracy, the court system, the media, and all of those different voices be heard, but it must be ensured that the government is in the business of security and making that happen. In speaking to Prime Minister Bhutto in the days and weeks before her death, as I did, it was obvious that she was concerned about her security, but she was concerned about the future of the people of Pakistan. Again, a peacemaker, someone who put her life behind her love and affection for this country. And so we rise today to acknowledge the horrific tragedy, the fact that her family has suffered such, and the fact that she was truly a fighter globally. But there is a challenge that she knew that we had to confront together, and that is the tribal areas in Pakistan. It is a place where we must accept the collapse, if you will, of the foreign policy efforts of this nation, for it is there where the Taliban is resurging and there where al Qaeda may be strong, and it is there where it is alleged that Osama bin Laden rests. So this policy must begin to address what former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto wanted us to address: the social and economic needs, along with the security needs, of the Pakistani people. And it is my call that we not give up on the Pakistani people or Pakistan. It is a country that was founded on democratic principles. We must not give up on the Pakistani people around the world and Pakistani Americans. They want democracy. Those in my community want democracy for their nation, and my constituents in Houston, Texas, are calling me every day so we can come together to find a way to put Pakistan on the path to democracy. Sleep well, my good friend, former Prime Minister Bhutto. We owe you an enormous debt of gratitude, and deepest sympathy to your family. But our commitment is that your lust and love for peace will never be forgotten. We owe you that in our tribute and our words and actions and deeds. May all rest in peace, in you, a great and wonderful leader. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 912, introduced by my distinguished colleague Mr. Ackerman. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bipartisan resolution, which condemns the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan. I express my sincere condolences to Ms. Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and her children, Bilawal, Bakhtwar, and Aseefa. I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Ackerman for introducing this resolution, and I would like to commend Mr. Lantos for his leadership on Pakistan as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As my colleagues are aware, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, as she left a peaceful political rally, in an attack which also killed over 20 innocent bystanders. Ms. Bhutto's death came 2 months after she returned to Pakistan from exile and was immediately attacked in a suicide bombing that killed over 130 people, and just over 2 weeks before Pakistan's democratic elections were scheduled to occur. It is with deep sadness that I mourn the passing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto. Ms. Bhutto was a woman and a leader who pursued excellence and greatness for her country, putting the needs of her nation above concerns for her own safety. As co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Bhutto several times in recent months, and I was always struck by her commitment to remaining in Pakistan, despite attacks and threats on her life. Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan in October 2007 came in the midst of an explosion that would have driven away anyone of lesser heart. She left the relative security of family life in Dubai to return to her homeland, determined to see democratic processes and institutions grow in Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was one of the world's most high-profile female leaders, and she rose to prominence amidst a male-dominated political hierarchy. After gaining her education at Harvard and Oxford, Ms. Bhutto followed her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, into politics. Like her father, she served as Prime Minister of Pakistan, holding the office from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. Also like her father, she was violently killed for her convictions, her dedication to her country, and her unwillingness to hide in the shadows upon her return to Pakistan. The assassination of Ms. Bhutto is a horrific tragedy for Pakistan and for the world. It is essential that her killers be brought to justice immediately. This is an extremely critical time for the nation of Pakistan, with elections that had been expected in early January now scheduled for February 18, 2008. Pakistan has seen serious political instability throughout the past year, weathering approximately 60 suicide bomb attacks, which killed nearly 800 people over the course of the year. Pakistan continues to be an important ally in the global fight against terrorism. I am particularly worried about the security of Pakistan's leaders and people, and I believe that we must examine the measures that are being undertaken to ensure their safety. As co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I have long advocated the need to ensure that Pakistan is stabilized, and that its leaders and people are protected. According to the United States Department of State, Pakistan currently has 85,000 troops stationed along the border with Afghanistan. Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, recently noted that Pakistan has ``captured more al-Qaeda than any country in the world, and lost more people doing that.'' Pakistani authorities have also killed or captured several top Taliban commanders in this area in recent months. Prime Minister Bhutto's assassination is a great blow to the democratic process in Pakistan. The international community must work together with the Pakistani government to ensure that those responsible for this brutal crime are brought to justice. In addition, we must stand with the people of Pakistan during this turbulent time, and, together, work together against our common enemy: terrorism. Benazir Bhutto was a truly courageous woman, and a true leader for her nation and the world. Her violent and untimely death is a true tragedy, and I join with the people of Pakistan, as well as my colleagues here in Congress, in mourning the passing of an extraordinary leader, as well as those who died in the December 17th attack with her. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, paying tribute to former Prime Minister Bhutto, condemning her assassination, supporting Pakistani and international efforts to bring her murderers to justice, and reaffirming our commitment to a free and democratic Pakistan, standing strong against our mutual enemy of terrorism.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, this evening I rise to commemorate the centennial of the founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first Greek-letter organization established by black college women in America. This prestigious organization, founded at Howard University by nine visionary women in 1908, at a period when Jim Crow laws flourished in the law books, knew the rigors of their journey during the early 1900s. The organization, which has grown to 200,000 members in 975 chapters worldwide, includes an extraordinary collection of women, who now encompass diverse ethnicities and nationalities and are united by a bond of sisterhood and a commitment to service. As a member of the Alpha Kappa Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Houston, Texas, I am proud to honor this historic milestone and welcome my sorors to the birthplace of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard University in Washington, DC. This evening, the sorority will conclude a 4-day salute that culminated in a gala week of tributes, salutes, and praise. Today, one hundred years ago, amazing sisterhood, the passion for humanitarian service, and the campaign for education brought nine ardent women together to form Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded to touch lives, improve the stature of women and serve humankind. Its mission is to develop leaders, expand Alpha Kappa Alpha's economic achievements, and ensure that the Sorority is fully engaged in achieving its possible goals. Sojourner Truth once said, that ``If women want any rights more than [they've] got, why don't they just take them and not be talking about it.'' This quote embodies the spirit that the determined women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. exhibit in order to attain the long-awaited goals of freedom and equality. The sorority is ``home'' to college presidents, deans, directors of Fortune 500 companies, judges, mayors, Members of Congress, state legislatures, city councils, and school boards. This sorority has provided the foundation for intellectuals such as Sharon Pratt Kelly, the first woman to serve as mayor of Washington, DC, Angie Brookes, the first woman President of the United Nations, the long revered Rosa Parks, mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Azie Taylor Morton, the only African-American to hold the position of Treasurer of the United States, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Alpha Kappa Alpha women have served in the United States Armed Services and devoted their lives to saving ours. I salute those women today who are active or retired military personnel. They and women such as Lt. Col. Anita McMiller, Deputy Legislative Assistant to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, are the sheroes that should be emulated by the next generation. AKA's have long referred to founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle as the ``guiding light,'' a figurative phrase that insists upon one's aptitude, resilience, unwavering service, and valor. President George W. Bush, in his address at the 55th Inauguration, stated that: Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. At a time when our Nation, in fact the world, has experienced unprecedented upheavals, Alpha Kappa Alpha has stayed the course of its mission and provided an anchor for scores of individuals and families by empowering communities through our committed service. A service that has endured 100 years because Barbara A. McKinzie, the Centennial International President, declares that it was built on bedrock of strength. I am proud to stand on the floor of the House tonight and pay tribute to this extraordinary organization, which has been helping our young women find the support, courage, and passion they need to become leaders in our society.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Today, Madam Speaker, we have the honor of celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. I am reminded of the 40th year of his death and what he was committed to, that is, the equality of all people, the economic equality. And that is why in 1968 he was bringing to Washington poor people from around America. It is time for an economic stimulus package, and the United States Congress must respond to the pain of the American people who are losing their homes. An immediate moratorium on those who are being foreclosed on, an infusion of capital to help them save their homes, and a freeze on the adjustable rates of these individuals who are suffering, who have invested in their homes, paid for their homes, and are the victims of scandalous and unscrupulous individuals who would take advantage of them. Let us keep the dream alive and fight for those who have invested in the American Dream. Let us put forward an economic stimulus package that will save the American people and their homes and really say that America is going toward the promised land. Happy birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank you so very much for all that you have done for all America.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts. As I stand here, I am looking at the lights in this Chamber and I must say to my colleagues that they are very bright. Symbolically, then, as we stand here on the floor of the House, we should be transparent, the lights should be on, and we should tell the truth. And so it is important for me to just hold up a summary of the works of the Democrats who worked without ceasing to reestablish priorities so that the maligned omnibus bill that my good friends on the other side of the aisle are talking about all the bad things, really, they are not shedding the light on the truth. Let me share with you simply what we have tried to do in the midst of opposition and obstructionism. I wish the administration would have collaborated with us, but we fought hard. And so out of this work comes increased medical research, $607 million for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and diabetes, which hits the 18th Congressional District in insurmountable numbers. Health care of $1 billion above the President's request that will focus resources in St. Joseph's Hospital and Doctors Hospital and potentially community health clinics that have worked on, like the Martin Luther King Community Health Clinic which needs additional dollars because of the increasing numbers of health problems in my congressional district. In K-12, my congressional district has the highest percentage of those students on title I in the State of Texas, and we have been able to increase that by $767 million. In addition, I went to the University of Houston to talk to those students who were standing in throngs asking about college aid, and I made a promise to them that we would not abandon their opportunity for their future and their desires and their dreams. And so this bill gives $1.7 billion above the President's request for Pell Grants and other student aid programs. There is a surge in crime wherever you go. The violence in Omaha in the mall; the violence dealing with the church and mission school out west. We now have 20 extra million dollars for Cops on the Beat. And then, of course, the tragedy of falling bridges, an inventory in my own district that suggested the falling bridges. We have increased dollars for that. I am very glad that there is moneys in here for the Texas Southern University lab for domestic violence in the City of Houston, but I am disappointed, Madam Speaker, because we have fallen on the job. And because most of America wants our troops home, now we have money for Iraq in this bill. We have a crisis. I sat in a hearing today to listen to a woman violated, abused, sexually violated in Iraq. No control. Recklessness going on. I went down the hall to another hearing, and members or representatives of the Iraqi Parliament said, how dare the United Nations cast a vote for more troops to be in Iraq without consulting with this new democratic government. We need to bring the troops home. Our troops deserve honor. I have authored a bill, the Military Success Act of 2007, that says the troops have done everything they have been asked to do. Give them their honor, give them their awards, have a proclamation celebrating their heroism. But the troops need to come home. And this bill does not need to be filled with Iraqi money, because the American people, over 60 percent, have said, we are done, we are finished. We have committed the greatest sacrifice, our children, our husbands, our wives, our grandmothers, our grandfathers, our family members. We have said that we have done everything that we have been asked to do by the 2002 resolution, of which I voted against. It is now finished. It is over. The troops need to come home. So, Madam Speaker, I think it is important that we acknowledge this bill and the work that we have tried to do. But, sadly, this bill needs to fall because of the Iraq dollars.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman. Madam Speaker, this is the holiday season. For many of us, this is Christmas. And I believe we owe a debt of gratitude to the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Rush; the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Dingell; all of the people who worked so hard; Ms. DeLauro who is not on the committee but who worked hard on this issue; and my good friend from Texas (Mr. Barton) who today declared an enormous Christmas gift. He said the President is going to sign this in near order. Maybe it will be tonight or tomorrow, and we will come back with our Santa Claus hats on. I chair the Congressional Children's Caucus, and this is a mighty important step going forward. I am delighted to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 4040, and I am really pleased that we responded immediately in an emergency posture. Can you imagine, Mr. Rush, listening to a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission saying, ``We need no more resources, everything is well.'' And can you imagine parents as they push the wee hours of the morning, of course not them, working with Santa, to get toys for their children, to be able to have to question whether these toys are safe? In fact, in my own district, I am hearing that parents are questioning, and the purchases of gifts are down, toys are down because they just don't know what is safe. This is a good bill. It instructs those who are dealing with children that there has to be important oversight. I am working, as well, and hope that as we move forward to expand the responsibilities of the Consumer Product Safety Commission that we will also look to language that I have in legislation that I have filed, or will be filing, dealing with the prohibition of imports of children's products without third-party testing for certification. This kind of oversight is crucial. Lead kills. So many times we have fought against lead in housing and fought against various, if you will, owners of apartments. Many times we have waged a battle against lead in our public housing, section 8 housing or dilapidated housing that many poor Americans have to live in. We have fought against that. Lead kills. Lead is poison. But can you imagine that right under our very noses we had goods and toys that, in fact, our children bought or their family members bought and they played with that would kill? H.R. 4040, I believe, will save lives. It is an important statement. It is a holiday statement. It is an important statement to indicate that children of America are first. I ask my colleagues to support it.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Again, Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to be speaking to my colleagues as you preside over this Chamber, and we thank you for your leadership. I am privileged this evening to be able to stand on the floor of the House and salute a very dear friend, a friend who will commemorate and celebrate for his homegoing ceremony on this coming Friday, December 21, 2007. We will lay this battle-worn warrior, this friendly and wonderful public servant, Reuben Wheatley, to rest. I stand here as a longstanding friend, as a grateful member of his community, for all that he did to promote equality and justice and freedom. Yes, Reuben Wheatley, born September 15, 1921 was, in fact, a member of the movement both in terms of creating opportunities for those of African American heritage and others and as well in fighting for the working men and women of America. He was the proud son of Fifth Ward. Yes, that is in Houston, Texas, but everybody knows there is something called proudly Fifth Ward, Texas. Educated in the Houston Independent School District, and certainly whenever you would see Reuben, he would talk about his beloved Wheatley High School, Phyllis Wheatley High School, and he was an all-star member of the track team, the football team and the basketball team. And he was quick, regal, tall and quick. They called him ``Rabbit.'' He joined the church at the Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church, a church still standing proudly in Fifth Ward. But yet as this young man grew, he loved this Nation. And in 1941 he heeded the call of this Nation, the need of this Nation and went to war, World War II. He participated in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged by the United States Army as master sergeant. He had the good sense, if you will, when he returned to marry Helen McCree his high school sweetheart, on November 18, 1945. How grateful we are that he was one of the returning heroes, that as he battled in World War II, he lived to be able to enjoy the partnership, friendship and love of Helen McCree, now his wife, Helen Wheatley. His father was a longshoreman, and in those days, the union and working for the union and working for the longshoremen, that was a job for African Americans that was a legacy, an opportunity, a step up. And so when he came back from the war, he joined in the footsteps of his father and became a member of the International Longshoremen's Association, Local Number 872. And boy, did he become a member, and did he not serve. Reuben Wheatley had his hands on the pulse of the community. He understood the importance and the necessity of empowerment of minorities. He was one of the champions of the election of the Honorable Barbara Jordan. Almost every elected person that could come out of Fifth Ward, Reuben Wheatley was there. He was there for Mickey Leland. And I am so grateful that he stretched his arms to be there for Sheila Jackson-Lee. As I ran for judge and city council, he saw in me something worth investing in. Thank you, Reuben, and thank you to your wonderful family, your daughters, who you love so dearly, one in particular was named the name that I have, Sheila. And she, of course, along with her siblings were stars, and they were that because of Reuben and his wife Helen. And so I am here today to thank you, Reuben, for now you fly where the angels fly. Thank you, Reuben, for being regal and tall. Thank you for smiling. Thank you for loving. Thank you for being that star at Wheatley so that your classmates can enjoy talking about your exploits on the football field, the basketball court, and the track, and yes, to remember that friendly name, ``Rabbit.'' Thank you for your faith and your commitment to your country. Thank you for your commitment, again, to family. Houston, Texas, the State of Texas and certainly our Nation is better because you yet lived. On Friday, it will be a celebration. Although tears will fall, we will be so grateful to continue to see you even as I speak, walking lightly in front of us. Madam Speaker, it is certainly great to be able to say tonight, ``Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'' And that is what we say to Reuben Wheatley as he is laid to rest. We celebrate him and congratulate his life. God bless the family, and God bless him as he rests. Congressional Resolution In Memory of Reuben Wheatley Whereas, on September 15, 1921, God blessed Emory McMillan, Sr and Creola Boyd Wheatley with the birth of their son, Reuben; and Whereas, as a proud son of the Fifth Ward, Texas Wheatley clan, Reuben was educated in the Houston Independent School District. At his beloved Phillis Wheatley High School, he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field earning the nickname ``Rabbit''; and Whereas, Reuben was presented to Christ by his parents at Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church. He later joined his bride at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and subsequently, both as faithful servants of the Lord, joined Brentwood Baptist Church; and Whereas, in 1941, Reuben honored the call to serve his country during World War II. He participated in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged from the United States Army as Master Sergeant. Upon his return from the service in 1945, Reuben married Helen McCree, his high school sweetheart, on November 18th; and Whereas, in 1946, Reuben began his career along the shore working on the Houston docks where his father had worked since 1921. He was a member of International Longshoremen's Association, Local #872; and Whereas, he served his home local as Trustee, Recording Secretary and Business Agent before being elected President in 1971. In 1975, he became Executive Vice President of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District of the ILA; and Whereas, he served as an active board member of Family Services of Greater Houston and an avid financial supporter of the United Negro College Fund; and Whereas, Reuben was deeply committed to his community and his civic involvement reflected his concerns; and Whereas, the memory of Reuben Wheatley will forever be in our hearts and minds as we go forth to celebrate his life today; and now, therefore, be it Resolved, That on behalf of the constituents of the Eighteenth Congressional District of Texas, Reuben Wheatley will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his community service, and his passion for music. His life will serve as an example to all of us to continue his legacy to serve others. His death is a great loss to us, but we know that his work on Earth is finished, and we believe the Master will say, ``Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter. . . .''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished chairman of the full committee. Through his leadership, we have had a number, huge numbers of solutions being put forward, and I thank him so very much for serving the American people as he has done. Let me thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for his leadership and share some real life stories. Madam Speaker, I lived through Hurricane Katrina and Rita and spent a good number of my days in New Orleans visiting not only with the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but also subsequently in Texas visiting with those impacted by Hurricane Rita. I also engaged extensively with small contractors and workers who indicated that in addition to trying to put themselves forward to do the best work on behalf of the victims, they were victimized. And the victims were victimized over and over again: fraudulent work being done, contracts being signed, moneys being promised, and nothing happening. This bill will set the record straight. Not only does it send a message in times of disaster to those who come rushing in to try and provide, if you will, the saving flag or the saving grace, but hopefully it will send a message to local jurisdictions that they must have enormous oversight in ensuring that they are not subjected to criminal penalties. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, let me also acknowledge Chairman Thompson. In the early days after Hurricane Katrina, we had oversight hearings over the abuses that were occurring, the lack of oversight by FEMA. I went into some of the sites, if you will, where individuals were being signed up for work or benefits. But the aftermath of it was what the shame was. How people were not given the benefits they were promised, how contractors did not fulfill their duties, and how local jurisdictions were made to pay enormous prices to large contractors, and yet local small businesses, minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses could not get business and could not be paid. Even today, there are small contractors who are waiting still to be paid. I rise to support this legislation, the Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2007. It is long overdue.