Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished chairman of the committee. I rise enthusiastically to support the present legislation on the floor, because we have had a rocky time, Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of months, and we have raised in the current light that race and history are not relevant. I am grateful that the most powerful lawmaking body in the world has now come to the floor to acknowledge the slave trade and all of the ramifications, from its beginning to its ending, because we have been told over the last couple of months that there is no concern to a young African American male still being incarcerated in the State of Georgia and that race is not an issue. We have been told that there is no problem to the existence of the Jena Six, and that race is not an issue. Likewise, we have been told that inequity in our school systems that impact heavily on African American and other minorities is not an issue of race, and many times it is. So to be able to rise to debate this question of recognizing the impact of slavery and the slave trade and its relationship to our international allies and their history with it is extremely important. Might I, in my comments, as I support the underlying bill, thank the chairman for his leadership. I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee. I particularly thank the chairman for his leadership on remuneration. On the previous bill, very briefly, I would like to acknowledge my support for the remuneration of those families that suffered in the tragedy of the African Embassies, who did not get a response, did not get coverage, did not get a response from the Federal Government for 9 years after this tragic incident where they lost their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee and other members of the full Committee on Foreign Affairs for understanding that the moneys had to be raised to compensate for the grief and pain that these particular family members now hold dear to their heart. That legislation was long in coming, and it is crucial that we did it under this Democratic majority Congress. We pressed the administration to sign it. Then I would finally like to comment, Mr. Speaker, that my delay was because we had a hearing, at the same time as this legislation, on Ethiopia. Having just come back from Ethiopia, I know how hard Mr. Payne has toiled. I, frankly, am concerned on the recent legislation that I know has just passed that we would have an indictment of a chairperson who has shown nothing but love and affection for the continent of Africa. I said in my remarks that we need to be big boys and girls. The world arena of diplomacy is a tough business, and we need to be able to have tough love. We need to be able to love the people of Ethiopia and its opportunities, but we likewise need to know that we need to be able to promote human rights, we need to be able to have an independent judiciary, we need to be able to have a move toward democratization and a recognition of the brilliance of Prime Minister Meles. But we have to address the concerns of the people, and I am grateful that amendments that I offered in that legislation now on the floor were accepted, that we have greater exchange between U.S. and Ethiopian judiciary, that we begin to look at changing property ownership from Ethiopia to the people. I saw that firsthand in Ethiopia. And in the discussion we had in the committee, it is important that we look at the Somalia-Ethiopian border and the people caught up in that crisis and begin to fight for humanitarian rights. That is crucial. I believe that this legislation that passed just prior to my coming to the floor, I believe the legislation on the terrorist victims whose families were lost in the African Embassies 9 years ago, and this legislation, begins to address nationally and internationally that America understands that this Congress will not abnegate its responsibility to, one, affirm its commitment to the continent of Africa, but also to understand the questions of race, and that race should not be negated for the crisis that we face. Mr. Chairman, let me thank you for your leadership and also for the acceptance of my amendments regarding the Ethiopian bill. I still, in the name of Mickey Leland, have a love and affection for Ethiopia and will continue to work with a degree of tough love with Ethiopia. I hope that the message that came forward, that you can't be harsh, you have to handle it with kid gloves, is very tricky and that it does not keep us from fighting for those incarcerated, fighting for those who are in need of humanitarian needs, and affirming the value of Ethiopia as it fights with us in the war against terror, and in Sudan. Why should we be afraid to give tough love? It will help the people of Ethiopia. That is what we are looking for. Ethiopian Americans, bring us your roadmap so that we can work together and make not only the United States the best country in the world, but work with Ethiopia as it aspires to be a shining star of democracy on the continent. Mr. 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 90 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. Mr. 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. Mr. 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 import 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. January 1, 2008 will mark 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 Unites 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, which I, together with over 80 of my colleagues, have co-sponsored. This important legislation reaffirms the United States commitment to supporting human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, and economic development in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. I would like thank Chairman Payne for introducing this important legislation, and Chairman Lantos for his leadership on this important issue. I was pleased to work with both Chairmen within the Committee on Foreign Affairs to incorporate important language into the bill at the committee markup. As amended, to reflect my language, I believe that this bill is an important and firm diplomatic step toward addressing our serious concerns with Ethiopia. My language will work to bolster an independent judiciary in Ethiopia by encouraging exchanges between Ethiopian and United States jurists, law schools, law professors, and law students, especially in legal fields such as constitutional law, role of the judiciary, due process, habeas corpus, political and voting rights, criminal law and procedure, and discrimination. Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia's judicial system is making important strides forward, but it still requires our support and ongoing engagement. Such exchanges would be mutually beneficially to both American and Ethiopian legal students and professionals. In addition, I am pleased to have successfully offered language that added exemptions for international military education and training for civilian personnel under section 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, commonly referred to as ``Expanded IMET,'' from the restrictions on security assistance until the Government of Ethiopia can certify it has met certain standards of human rights, democracy, and economic development. While I certainly believe these standards are crucial goals, and that we should be using our aid programs as an incentive for the government to meet these objectives, I also strongly believe that we must continue to fund crucial programs. IMET ensures that the military and related civilian personnel receive a range of necessary training, in important areas including human rights and military justice. I do not believe these crucial programs should be suspended, pending certification. Making sure that the military receives proper training, including in international standards and norms, is a crucial component to helping Ethiopia meet human rights specifications. Finally, I offered language to provide assistance to promote the privatization of government industries and property. As Ethiopia transitions from a socialist structure to an open-market, I believe it is mutually beneficial for us to assist in this groundbreaking transformation. My language authorizes the President, acting through USAID, to provide assistance to promote the privatization of government owned or controlled industries and property in Ethiopia. Mr. Speaker, though Ethiopia is currently on the road to democracy, I do not believe we should be treating the country with kid gloves. This is a path that should be paved with civil and political discourse, peaceful transitions of power, and respect for human rights. By necessity, the achievement of a modem democracy requires the implementation of electoral reforms, the separation of powers in the government, and the establishment of a truly independent judiciary. These are the founding principles of our American Republic, and I have seen firsthand the progress on the path to democracy Ethiopia has made since the brutal dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam was brought down in 1991. I strongly believe that the United States should do all it can to support this transition, including bolstering civil society and speaking out when fundamental human rights are violated. Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia is a leader in its region, and in the African continent, and has the potential to be a great global leader. However, years of fighting and alleged abuses are standing in the way of Ethiopia's progress. We need a roadmap toward establishing peace, stability, protection of human rights, and democracy in Ethiopia, and in the entire Horn of Africa region. This will necessitate addressing the ongoing lawlessness in neighboring Somalia, which continues to destabilize and threaten the entire region. Ethiopia has a long and proud history. It is the cradle of mankind, as illustrated by ``Lucy,'' also known as Dinkinesh (Amharic for ``you are wonderful''), which is the nearly complete hominid skeleton discovered by archaeologists in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia on November 30, 1974. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago and has redefined science's understanding of human evolution. I was happy to work with Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Ethiopian Ambassador Samuel Assefa, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science to bring Lucy to Houston, which is one of only 9 American cities and the only city in Texas to host the exhibit. The bones are currently on display in Houston, and will be until April 2008. Ethiopia is also the oldest independent nation in Africa, has never been colonized, and is home to the African Union. Despite Ethiopia's rich history, however, this bill recognizes that recent decades have brought hardship and suffering to Ethiopia's people, through military conflict, natural disasters, and a military dictatorship. For over a decade in the House of Representatives, and prior to that in the Houston city council, I have been an outspoken and unwavering advocate for the country of Ethiopia and its people, both in Ethiopia and in the diaspora. Following in the legendary footsteps of my predecessor, Mickey Leland, who died attempting to alleviate the starvation faced by Ethiopia's innocent populace, I have been a champion of increasing foreign aid to, political, economic, and social cooperation with, and improving human rights in Ethiopia. While I continue to advocate close interaction and constructive dialogue with Ethiopia and its leaders, I believe the human rights situation there must be addressed. Of particular recent concern was the detention of elected parliamentarians, human rights advocates, and independent journalists and the harsh response to protesters after Ethiopia's recent unprecedented elections in 2005. In response to reports that thousands of prisoners languished in prisons throughout Ethiopia, I was proud to join a number of my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Rice, expressing our strong concern about the treatment of detainees. In July, an Ethiopian court harshly sentenced 35 opposition leaders and activists to life in prison and denied them the right to vote or run for public office on charges of inciting violence. Although I was pleased to see the Court rebuff the prosecution's call for the death sentence against these defendants, I believe that the sentence of life imprisonment is still too severe a punishment. However, I am heartened by the active role that elders such as Professor Ephraim Isaac played in the negotiations for these prisoners' release, and I was extremely pleased that these negotiations led to the release of these prisoners. Only through amnesty will the Ethiopian government and opposition leaders be able to secure a path to reconciliation rather than assuring a future of political divisiveness. This legislation reaffirms the United States commitment to supporting Ethiopia as it builds the necessary institutions and civil society framework for a successful democracy. It contains a number of important provisions directing the Department of State to provide mechanisms for supporting and monitoring the promotion of human rights and democracy within Ethiopia. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we in Congress should focus on the pursuit of truth. It is extremely important that we seek truthful accounts of what is going on in Ethiopia, and in the entire Horn of Africa region, and that we use these reports to develop a roadmap that will guide Ethiopia along the path to democracy and greater guarantees for human rights. This roadmap must be characterized, above all, by firm diplomacy. I would like to conclude by reiterating my firm belief in the extreme importance of supporting the strengthening of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2828, to provide compensation to relatives of United States citizens who were killed as a result of the bombings of United States embassies in East Africa on August 7, 1998. I would like to commend my colleague, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., for introducing this important and long-overdue legislation, and I would like to thank the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Lantos, for his leadership on this important issue. I have been pleased to work with Congressman Jackson, and to cosponsor this bill, because I strongly believe that the relatives of the victims of the 1998 East Africa bombings have gone too long without the recognition and the compensation they need and deserve. I was also pleased to work with the Chairman of the Committee, Congressman Lantos, to ensure that these families receive what they deserve. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, in 1998 simultaneous bombs exploded at United States embassies in the East African capital cities of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks, which killed hundreds of people, first brought international attention to Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network, and stand out as one of the worst anti-American terrorist attacks preceding September 11, 2001. Mr. Speaker, nearly a decade later, the families of those victims who died in these bombings still have not been compensated. In contrast, after the catastrophic events of September 11, Congress acted relatively quickly to set up the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, which paid out nearly $6 billion to 2,880 families of those injured on that catastrophic day. We have shown compassion toward those affected by terrorism, and we have shown that we can act with purpose and haste. It is now time to finally act to compensate the families of those who died in East Africa. In the case of the Kenya bombings, a 2001 bipartisan review panel found no negligence per se, but did find that there was an ``institutional failure . . . to recognize threats posed by transnational terrorism and vehicle bombs worldwide.'' The intelligence community had been monitoring several Al Qaeda associates in Nairobi for 2 years. That information was not shared with the diplomats bidding on assignments in Nairobi. Prior to the attack, then-Ambassador Prudence Bushnell warned the State Department about the vulnerability of the embassy and requested more security. Instead of properly addressing Bushnell's concerns, State replied: ``go back to Nairobi, don't send any more cables about this or we are going to place a statement in your personnel file.'' After this cavalier treatment of embassy officials in Africa, many of the relatives of those killed were treated dismissively by the State Department upon returning to the United States. Instead of compassion they found bureaucracy, and instead of recompense they found only red tape. Now, 9 years later, those families are still awaiting sufficient compensation. While no amount of money can bring back loved ones or heal the wounds this act of terrorism caused, we must make an effort to ensure that the families receive some degree of comfort. This legislation would amend the Foreign Service Act to provide a death benefit to all U.S. Government employees abroad in U.S. diplomatic facilities who are killed in an act of international terrorism. It would retroactively require the Secretary of State to compensate those killed since 1998, including the Nairobi families, at ten times the salary of the highest paid employee in the embassy. Mr. Speaker, this legislation recognizes one of the most tragic and unfortunate incidents in the history of the Department of State. We have waited too long to bring recognition and compensation to the families of those who perished in these tragic bombings. I am pleased to have worked with these brave families to bring this legislation, with a full compensation package, before the Committee today. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Ms. Speaker I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 635, recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith. I would like to thank my colleague, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson, as well as the 30 other cosponsors for introducing this important and timely piece of legislation. I would also like to thank Chairman Lantos for his leadership on this issue. This important legislation brings us together in celebration with our Muslim brothers and sisters, during this, their holy month of fasting and spirituality. Since the tragic terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, patriotic, law-abiding Muslims-Americans of the Islamic faith have been targeted by threats and incidents of violence. The House of Representatives has rebuked and condemned such actions from their very inception, with their September 14, 2001 resolution condemning bigotry and violence against American Muslims, and must continue to do so. It is important during this period of international uncertainty and apprehension to look to our commonalities, recognizing universal values that transcend culture, nationality, and religion. The Muslim American Community has grown in size and prominence, and is an integral part of the fabric of this nation. The Muslim population in North America is characterized by its diversity. Some 80 nations are represented in the mosque communities of the United States, including a variety of traditions, practices, doctrines, and beliefs. Muslim Americans share the same values and ideals that make this nation great. These include ideals such as discipline, generosity, peace and moderation. In no month is this more evident than in the month of Ramadan, when more than a billion Muslims all across the world renew their bonds to family and friends, to neighbors and colleagues, and most of all to God. Ramadan is a special time of prayer and fasting, contemplation of God's greatness, and service to those in need. Mr. Speaker, it is in the spirit of equality and sharing that we must recognize the universal values of family, community, and faith that we all share. By recognizing the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world, the House of Representatives may demonstrate solidarity with and support for the members of the Muslim community, both within the United States and throughout the world. By supporting this legislation, we may convey our respect to the Muslim community and commend the vast majority of Muslims within the U.S. and across the globe who have rejected the misapplication and misinterpretation of their religion. As a co-sponsor of this legislation I feel that this is an issue we must address and I therefore strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me thank my distinguished colleague and friend, chairwoman of the Ethics Committee from Ohio Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for more than this one night. I think that we are back in the saddle again, and I applaud the fact that the Congressional Black Caucus, the conscience of the Congress, is now reporting the ions and pages and, if you will, thousands upon thousands of items that we work on and solve on a daily basis here in the United States Congress. So I want to thank her for guiding this for a period of time, and I want to then acknowledge the chairpersons of the 37th Annual Legislative Conference, the Honorable Donna Christensen and G.K. Butterfield, who did an outstanding job. And as well might I acknowledge and thank, and I know that he will be speaking soon, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Chairman Kendrick Meek, and thank him for his leadership and also for the opportunity to now journey on the foundation board as a new member. As I am a new member of the foundation board, I am delighted to be able to collaborate with him on some of the many, many issues that the board will tackle. Success; inspirational; exciting; fun; learned; and, of course, message giving. That was the 37th annual legislative session that we just finished here in Washington, D.C. Allow me to acknowledge the importance of the Voting Rights session that Mel Watt and I, having served on the Judiciary Committee, worked on as we moved to reauthorize the Voting Rights legislation in the last session. And just to bring to the attention of my colleagues, the reason why that is so important is because it seems that race again is becoming a dividing issue in America. And I just want to remind my colleagues, or maybe bring it to your attention, I am going to sort of merge it into the review of the particular sessions that I had, but I just want to announce to my colleagues that Ward Connelly has managed to get the question of affirmative action on the ballot of nine States. My understanding is that that question which revolves around race will be on the Presidential-year elections. It is my understanding that it will be on the ballot in November of 2008. I am going to investigate that issue, but I wanted to just bring that to the table because a number of our sessions had to do with trying to grapple with this question of race. And certainly the Voting Rights Act and the interpretations that the Supreme Court will make on additional cases involving race really emphasize that. And I must say that I enjoyed co-hosting a series of sessions with Bobby Scott. There was a session that, although I was detained, I was able to get in for a brief moment, but I want to compliment him and acknowledge that one of the aspects that was spoken about was the recent decision dealing with race in schools on the Supreme Court. So you can imagine if there are ballot issues dealing with affirmative action, it just converges on a number of these issues. And that session really emphasized the wrongness of the decision as it relates to the results, meaning that Brown versus Board of Education might be challenged under that decision. Something for us to be concerned about. So I enjoyed participating in that one and thought it was a very important, instructive session, as well as cochairing the child welfare section with Danny Davis. And the one point I want to mention that came out of that that really cries out for legislation is the fact that foster children age out of protection, age out of a home at age 18. And for those of us who have children that know that we are still mothering them at 21, 22, 23, 24, and they have a home, our children can come back to a home or have a roof over their head that we may have, but foster children get out of the system. There is no obligation to provide them with housing or schooling or anything. What a tragedy, which is why you see that many foster children are homeless, many foster children can't finish college. They get no stipend, and it is a crisis. And it was an outstanding series with Historically Black Colleges. Let me then indicate that the series that I had involved the energy brain trust, which was historic. And let me quickly say that we had representatives from Shell and CAMAC energy and the CEO of CITGO; from Venezuela, the Venezuelan ambassador; the ambassador from Algeria; Milton Scott, who owns a very important African American energy company; Steve Hightower, African American, owner of an energy company; George Person; Lisa Jackson; Gary Heminger; Hugh Depland from BP; Gary from Marathon; Frank Stewart from the American Association of Blacks in Energy; Willie Trotty. And the key element, high gasoline prices and high utility costs, building bridges. We have a commitment to convene the energy brain trust at the OTC, the Offshore Technology Conference, in Houston, but the main thing we have a commitment to is getting African Americans in the ownership wealth part of energy and making sure that there are African Americans in the corporate aspects of these major Fortune 500 companies and, as well, increasing more ownership. Lastly, we did a provocative session on hip hop, ``The Culture of a People, the Language of a People,'' and it actually got people talking. Julianne Malveaux, the president of Bennett College. Azim Rashid, senior VP of operations at Warner Music. J. Xavier, 350-time performer, 15-year-old clean hip hop artist. An Tun Muhammad, the president of The Real Hip Hop Network. Asha Jenning, Igniting Media Accountability. Madhatter of the Box Station in Houston, and JMAC. And then Reverend Ben Chavis and Charles LeBoef. Let me conclude by saying that we opened up the door of communication to understand hip hop from both perspectives in art, but also accountability. I look forward to continuing those sessions. But more importantly let me thank the convener, because we were able to say it was vital, it was important, and there was so much learning going on. Now we're going forward with the legislative initiative for the CBC legislative weekend. I yield back to the distinguished gentlelady. Thank you for the time. The issue of energy is one of the most important national security issues which face our nation due to our increasing dependence on foreign sources of energy, often times from volatile parts of the world. My braintrust seeks to highlight and remedy the lack of adequate outreach to and participation by the African American community in America's energy industry, which is exacerbated by the inherent barriers present in the energy industry to African American students, workers, entrepreneurs, and investors along with the disparate impact the energy industry has on minority populations, consumers and neighborhoods, both in terms of prices and environmental justice. There is no issue more integral to our nation's economic and national security than energy independence. This Energy Braintrust, which is comprised of some of the most prominent members of America's energy industry, is designed to be a clarion call to action, in order to build bridges and synergies between the African-American community and America's energy industry. The purpose of this Braintrust will not only be the discussion of, but more importantly, the transformation of dialogue into action and legislation to address and bolster the relationships between the energy industry and African American consumers, entrepreneurs, investors, workers, and students. My hope and expectation is that six months from now each of today's presenters will join me to collectively and individually issue a plan of benchmarks, goals, and pathways to build concrete and coherent bridges and synergies between the African American community and America's energy industry. Moreover, part of this plan will be a formal mechanism such as a progress report to measure how each of today's prominent panelists and the companies they represent implement and achieve the benchmarks they helped to develop. This will ensure that we transform today's substantive discussion into pragmatic action. Energy is the lifeblood of every economy, especially ours. Producing more of it leads to more good jobs, cheaper goods, lower fuel prices, and greater economic and national security. However, the U.S. is more than 60 percent dependent on foreign sources of energy, twice as dependent today as we were just 30 years ago. America's growing and dangerous energy dependence has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of good American jobs, skyrocketing consumer prices, and vulnerabilities in our national security. Energy imports now make up one-third of America's trade deficit. America must improve the supply-demand imbalance, lower consumer prices, and increase jobs by producing more of its own energy resources. With my district of Houston being the energy capital of the world, the energy industry in Houston exemplifies the stakeholders who must be instrumental in devising a pragmatic strategy for resolving our national energy crisis. At this point in history, the energy industry is at a critical turning point where we can become active agents of change in our collective futures. America's dependence of foreign oil has led us to precarious position in terms of foreign policy and national security, while the youth of our nation have not received sufficient means to move to us a new direction. Because I represent the city of Houston, the energy capital of the world, I realize that many oil and gas companies provide many jobs for many of my constituents and serve a valuable need. The energy industry in Houston exemplifies the stakeholders who must be instrumental in devising a pragmatic strategy for resolving our national energy crisis. It is crucial that while seeking solutions to secure more energy independence within this country, we strike a balance that will still support an environment for continued growth in the oil and gas industry, which I might add, creates millions of jobs across the entire country. We have many more miles to go before we achieve energy independence. Consequently, I am willing, able, and eager to continue working with Houston's and our nation's energy industry to ensure that we are moving expeditiously on the path to crafting an environmentally sound and economically viable energy policy. Furthermore, I think it is imperative that part of this policy includes increased involvement by small, minority and women owned businesses, and independent energy companies in this process because they represent some of the hard working Americans and Houstonians who are on the forefront of energy efficient strategies to achieving energy independence. I will conclude by also emphasizing that renewable and alternate sources of energy must be part of our energy future in order to achieve energy independence. Replacing oil imports with domestic alternatives such as traditional and cellulosic ethanol can not only help reduce the $180 billion that oil contributes to our annual trade deficit, it can end our addiction to foreign oil. According to the Department of Agriculture, biomass can displace 30 percent of our Nation's petroleum consumption. Along with traditional production of ethanol from corn, cellulosic ethanol can be produced domestically from a variety of feedstocks, including switchgrass, corn stalks and municipal solid wastes, which are available throughout our nation. Cellulosic ethanol also relies on its own byproducts to fuel the refining process, yielding a positive energy balance. Whereas the potential production of traditional corn- based ethanol is about 10 billion gallons per year, the potential production of cellulosic ethanol is estimated to be 60 billion gallons per year. I will close by emphasizing that we must be balanced and prudent in our approach to address our energy needs. By ensuring access to the African-American community and investing in renewable energy, I believe we can be partners with the responsible members of America's energy producing community present today to achieve our collective goal of reaching energy independence and increased inclusion of the African- American community. Children's Issues Forum: Hip Hop: The Culture of a People The Annual Legislative Conference is an opportunity for us to discuss and engage with some of the difficult issues that face us as a community and as a nation, This year, it was my honor and pleasure to host a Children's Issues Forum entitled ``The Language of Hip Hop: The Culture of a People,'' This timely and thought-provoking discussion and examination of the impact, both positive and negative, of hip hop on our community featured panelists from the hip hop industry, as well as activists and academics. As a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chairwoman of the Congressional Children's Caucus, and most importantly a mother, it is my priority to address issues relating to the health and well-being of African American youth in this country. I recognize that Hip Hop culture has had a tremendous influence on the artistic and musical expression of America's youth today. However, many view the culture of Hip Hop as a negative and provocative phenomenon due to some of the negative images and harsh lyrics that some artists use to express themselves. I believe that before we condemn Hip Hop, we must first try to understand it. The Children's Braintrust sought to reach such understanding. Throughout history, music originating from America's Black communities has always had an accompanying subculture reflective of the political, social and economic conditions of the time. Rap is no different. The history of our music often exemplifies a deeper reflection of the goings on in society--from Billie Holiday's solemn song characterizing those who were lynched as ``Strange Fruit'' to Nina Simone's musical commentary in ``Mississippi G----D----'' expressing her disdain for the rampant killings in the South, to Tupac's expression of sincere compassion for poor black women, whom he urged to ``keep your head up'' despite the fact that society has turned its back on you. Hip hop is the culture from which rap emerged. Hip hop is a lifestyle with its own language, style of dress, music and mind set that is continuously evolving. We have seen hip hop go from competitive freestyling to breakdancing battles to East Coast-West Coast rivalry. Surely, we lost two extremely talented individuals in Tupac and Biggie, much too soon. We all know their lives did not have to end so violently. But knowing this, we must ask ourselves, why does the violence continue to take so many of our youth? My Children's Issues Forum was an opportunity to talk with each other, rather than at each other. Panelists and participants came together to discuss solutions, and to look for a way forward that embraces the hip hop artists in their quest to fulfill their dreams but rejects the lethal language that often lends itself to less than desirable outcomes for our children. More and more, we see some of the negative messages affecting the way young people make decisions about engaging in sexual activity, drug use and using violence as a means to resolve conflict. The self esteem and desire of many young listeners to achieve greatness are being deflated by stereotypes and explicit lyrics in some Hip Hop lyrics. While I uphold America's fundamental right to freedom of speech and believe that artists have a right to creative expression, a middle ground needs to be sought in order to allow artists to create music without demeaning and degrading others. It is difficult to progress as a community if we never take the time to carefully dissect the influence of Hip Hop on our children. During my forum, panelists examined whether Hip Hop language is culture, creativity or crisis, and explored the ``Stop Snitchin'' phenomenon that has had a negative impact on communities across the nation. This important Issues Forum was a substantial first step toward reaching a solution. The ALC is about fostering positive and creative change, and the Children's Braintrust made great strides toward making our communities safer for our children.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 691, commending the Wings Over Houston Airshow for its great contribution to the appreciation, understanding, and future of the United States Armed Forces, the city of Houston, TX, and Ellington Field, of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Lampson, for introducing this legislation, and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Congressman Skelton, for his leadership on this important issue. The 23rd annual Wings Over Houston Airshow will take place on October 6 and 7, 2007, at Ellington Field, Houston, TX. This year's event will feature an array of modern civilian aerobatic and state-of-the-art military hardware, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, as well as historic planes such as a Lockheed P-38 buried under ice in Greenland in 1942 and only recovered 50 years later. Also performing will be the all-volunteer Gulf Coast Wing and West Houston Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force, which has performed for the last 23 years at the airshow. Mr. Speaker, the Wings Over Houston Airshow has been rated as one of the top events of its kind. Over 70,000 people, both from the local community in southeast Texas and from all over the Nation, gather every year at this event, where they have the opportunity to see the United States Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard perform, as well as to meet service members of the past and present. The Wings Over Houston Airshow has helped to increase awareness and appreciation for the United States Armed Forces and its active duty members and veterans. The Wings Over Houston Airshow also serves to promote an understanding and appreciation of military history. The airshow's many events include the reenactment of battles and the acquisition, restoration, and display of vintage aircraft. Among these historical reenactments is Tora!Tora!Tora!, an explosive recreation of the air attack on Pearl Harbor. Viewers of all ages will have the opportunity to view this exciting spectacle, while also learning about military and aviation history. Mr. Speaker, the Wings Over Houston Airshow plays an important role in both local and national communities. The airshow benefits local and national charities, including the Wings Over Houston Airshow Scholarship Program, the Texas Southern University Aviation Career Academy, the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, and the Commemorative Air Force aircraft restoration and flying historical programs. The Wings Over Houston Scholarship Program is particularly important. This scholarship program promotes math and science education by helping students from southeast Texas pursue college educations in the fields of aviation and aerospace. Scholarships are awarded to students residing in Harris County, or a contiguous county, who have demonstrated academic potential, leadership, and extracurricular involvement, with preference giving to those pursuing an academic degree directly associated with aviation or aerospace. For 2007, a total of $10,000 in scholarships was awarded, and I would like to congratulate the four recipients: Robert Tristan Reeves, David Gehris, Kristen John, and Donovan Johnson. Mr. Speaker, the Wings Over Houston Airshow is made possible by the collaboration of a number of Houston area organizations. I would like to extend my thanks to the airshow's partners, which include the Lone Star Flight Museum, the Houston Airport System, the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Destination League City, and the cities of Houston, Kemah, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, and Webster. Together, the Wings Over Houston Airshow and its generous partners have contributed to the economy and growth of southeast Texas. Mr. Speaker, the 110th Congress has made the promotion of math and science education for all our Nation's children a legislative priority. Exciting and exhilarating events like the Wings Over Houston Airshow are an opportunity for children of all ages to engage with science, to hear heroic stories that helped shape America's rich aviation history, to get excited about the world of aviation, to meet and interact with members of our Nation's military, and to dream about their own futures. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thought I would reflect this evening on the needs of our children in America. Today we just debated a legislative initiative to attempt to respond to the health care needs of our children. The good news was the House bill understood that money was the answer to the uninsured children, $50 billion. We didn't quite get there. But I am committed to coming back so that all children can be insured, legal immigrants who have a right to be here and are documented, their children can be insured. But we have to fight this battle. My question to the President is: Do you care? And then I want to say to this Congress, another young man is languishing in a jail in Jena, Louisiana. It is time to free Mychel Bell, someone who was inappropriately charged as an adult. He is representing thousands of young people wrongly prosecuted, minority young people, who have not been able to find justice. So to this Congress, help us free Mychel Bell and the Jena 6. Enough is enough.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts and the chairman of the full Committee on Ways and Means and the chairman of Energy and Commerce. This is correctly stated by the chairman of the Ways and Means: this is not the House bill. I love our children. I have great concerns about this legislation, but I have more concerns about my Republican friends who are opposing this legislation, and I am outraged about the President's threat of a veto. Even this bill does not cover the 6 million children that we need to cover, it only covers 2.4 million. My friends, this is not Medicaid; this is SCHIP. This is for working men and women whose children don't have health insurance; 2.8 million are insured. We wanted 5 million, 6 million; but, no, we only have 2.8 million, 3.2 million left out. And then, of course, there was the possibility of insuring some adults, the most vulnerable sick adults, under SCHIP with remaining monies. This bill does not do that. And then, of course, we look at individuals who are of legal immigrant status and we tell them they cannot be covered--these immigrants are here legally. We also are asking people to come to the emergency room with a sick child with citizenship documentation. And let me say, this is for all of us. And so you have a sick child and you're looking for citizenship documentation. On the other hand, I am grateful that we have parity with dental and mental care for SCHIP children. And pregnant women are covered. And then we have the ability to enroll the children quickly, because one of the problems of SCHIP is that children are not enrolled. But the real crisis is no answer coming from the White House children's health care. The only thing coming from the White House is a veto pen. So not only will 6 million children be left out in the cold, but the small number, 2.8 million, that was squeaking through the door will be thrown under the bus because we won't be able to cover them because a veto pen is waiting for us. We can do better. America is better than this. I love our children. We need to do this in the right way. We certainly don't need a veto pen by the President of the United States. We should love our children and respond to their health needs. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my disappointment in the version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2007 which has been brought before this body today. This bill, which has been largely driven by the Republicans in the Senate, falls far short of the mark to mend the broken pieces of our healthcare system and provide healthcare coverage for some of our most vulnerable populations in this country. Instead of covering an additional 6 million uninsured children, this bill increases coverage for 3 million, leaving 3 million children uninsured. This bill also fails to provide vision coverage and provides very little mental coverage for our children. Pregnant women may also suffer under this bill because this bill, unlike the previous House version, does not guarantee additional coverage for pregnant women. This bill also denies coverage to parents, college-aged adults, and legal immigrants who currently have coverage in some states. This is extremely important because reauthorization of SCHIP is crucial to closing the racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. Narrowing health care coverage of our children, as this newly agreed upon version does, clearly falls far short of the goal that we had hoped for in our efforts to decrease health disparities. It is crucial that this Congress continue to bring awareness to the many health concerns facing minority communities and to acknowledge that we need to find solutions to address these concerns. My colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and I understand the very difficult challenges facing us in the form of huge health disparities among our community and other minority communities. We will continue to seek solutions to those challenges. Reauthorization of the SCHIP bill is crucial to realizing those solutions. However, we must not compromise away the health of millions of children who will under this new SCHIP version go without healthcare coverage. It is imperative for us to improve the prospects for living long and healthy lives and fostering an ethic of wellness in African- American and other minority communities. Looking at the statistics, we know that the lack of healthcare contributes greatly to the racial and ethnic health disparities in this country, so we must provide our children with the health insurance coverage to remain healthy. SCHIP, established in 1997 to serve as the healthcare safety net for low-income uninsured children, has decreased the number of uninsured low-income children in the United States by more than one-third. The reduction in the number of uninsured children is even more striking for minority children. In 2006, SCHIP provided insurance to 6.7 million children. Of these, 6.2 million were in families whose income was less than $33,200 a year for a family of three. SCHIP works in conjunction with the Medicaid safety net that serves the lowest income children and ones with disabilities. Together, these programs provide necessary preventative, primary and acute healthcare services to more than 30 million children. Eighty-six percent of these children are in working families that are unable to obtain or afford private health insurance. Meanwhile, healthcare through SCHIP is cost effective: it costs a mere $3.34 a day or $100 a month to cover a child under SCHIP, according to the Congressional Budget Office. There are significant benefits of the State Children's Health Insurance Program when looking at specific populations served by this program. Minority Children: SCHIP has had a dramatic effect in reducing the number of uninsured minority children and providing them access to care; Between 1996 and 2005, the percentage of low-income African American and Hispanic children without insurance decreased substantially; In 1998, roughly 30 percent of Latino children, 20 percent of African American children, and 18 percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander children were uninsured. After enactment, those numbers had dropped by 2004 to about 12 percent, and 8 percent, respectively; Half of all African American and Hispanic children are already covered by SCHIP or Medicaid; More than 80 percent of uninsured African American children and 70 percent of uninsured Hispanic children are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP, so reauthorizing and increasing support for SCHIP will be crucial to insuring this population. Prior to enrolling in SCHIP, African American and Hispanic children were much less likely than non-Hispanic White children to have a usual source of care. After they enrolled in SCHIP, these racial and ethnic disparities largely disappeared. In addition, SCHIP eliminated racial and ethnic disparities in unmet medical needs for African American and Hispanic children, putting them on par with White children. SCHIP is also important to children living in urban areas of the country. In urban areas: One in four children has health care coverage through SCHIP. More than half of all children whose family income is $32,180 received health care coverage through SCHIP. Children in Urban Areas: SCHIP is also important to children living in urban areas of the country. In urban areas: One in four children has health care coverage through SCHIP. More than half of all children whose family income is $32,180 received healthcare coverage through SCHIP. Children in Rural Communities: SCHIP is significantly important to children living in our country's rural areas. In rural areas: One in three children has health care coverage through SCHIP or more than half of all children whose family income is under $32,180 received healthcare coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP. Seventeen percent of children continue to be of the 50 counties with the highest rates of uninsured children, 44 are rural counties, with many located in the most remote and isolated parts of the country. Because the goal is to reduce the number of uninsured children, reauthorizing and increasing support for SCHIP will be crucial to helping the uninsured in these counties and reducing the 17 percent of uninsured. Mr. Speaker, I would much rather we extend the deadline for reauthorization of SCHIP, while we diligently and reasonably consider the unsettled issues in this debate so that millions of the most vulnerable population, including many African American and other minority children can receive the health care coverage they need to remain healthy and develop into productive citizens of this great country. It is not as important to reauthorize an inferior bill under pressure of fast-approaching deadlines, as it is to ensure that we provide health care to those children who remain vulnerable to health disparities. I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring health care coverage for millions of children and reducing health disparities among the most vulnerable populations.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today enthusiastically and very humbly to honor the Little Rock Nine in the 50th year of the very brave nine young men and women who exemplified courage to stand for what is right in America, and that is equality and justice and the opportunity for all to be educated. Armed with a Federal Court order on September 23, 1957, these children went off to Little Rock High School. Turned back by a protest and viciousness, they then went with Federal troops given to them by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Their names were Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas and Carlotta Walls. I support the legislation. And although it is not the same, we now need Federal intervention for the Jena Six. We need justice for these young people. We need to be able to understand that these children are now being treated as the children were treated some 50 years ago. Justice for Little Rock Nine and justice for Jena Six.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my dear friend, Ms. Tubbs Jones of Ohio, for organizing this special order on the very importance subject of SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program. I am particularly pleased that we are having this discussion tonight because I have very serious concerns about the SCHIP legislation that comes before the House tomorrow. My major concern is that the version of the legislation that will come before the House tomorrow is less expansive than the version the House voted on previously. This is extremely important because reauthorization of SCHIP is crucial to closing the racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. Narrowing health care coverage of our children, as this newly agreed upon version does, clearly falls far short of the goal that we had hoped for in our efforts to decrease health disparities. It is crucial that this Congress continue to bring awareness to the many health concerns facing minority communities and to acknowledge that we need to find solutions to address these concerns. My colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and I understand the very difficult challenges facing us in the form of huge health disparities among our community and other minority communities. We will continue to seek solutions to those challenges. Reauthorization of the SCHIP is crucial to realizing those solutions. However, we must not compromise away the health of millions of children who will under this new SCHIP version go without health care coverage. It is imperative for us to improve the prospects for living long and healthy lives and fostering an ethic of wellness in African-American and other minority communities. I thank all of my CBC colleagues who have been toiling in the vineyards for years developing effective public policies and securing the resources needed to eradicate racial and gender disparities in health and wellness. We know that the lack of healthcare contributes greatly to the racial and ethnic health disparities in this country, so we must provide our children with the health insurance coverage to remain healthy. SCHIP, established in 1997 to serve as the healthcare safety net for low- income uninsured children, has decreased the number of uninsured low- income children in the United States by more than one-third. The reduction in the number of uninsured children is even more striking for minority children. In 2006, SCHIP provided insurance to 6.7 million children. Of these, 6.2 million were in families whose income was less than $33,200 a year for a family of three. SCHIP works in conjunction with the Medicaid safety net that serves the lowest income children and ones with disabilities. Together, these programs provide necessary preventative, primary and acute healthcare services to more than 30 million children. Eighty-six percent of these children are in working families that are unable to obtain or afford private health insurance for their Meanwhile, health care through SCHIP is cost effective: it costs a mere $3.34 a day or $100 a month to cover a child under SCHIP, according to the Congressional Budget Office. There are significant benefits of the State Children's Health Insurance Program when looking at specific populations served by this program. Minority Children SCHIP has had a dramatic effect in reducing the number of uninsured minority children and providing them access to care: Between 1996 and 2005, the percentage of low-income African American and Hispanic children without insurance decreased substantially. In 1998, roughly 30 percent of Latino children, 20 percent of African American children, and 18 percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander children were uninsured. After enactment, those numbers had dropped by 2004 to about 12 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. Half of all African American and Hispanic children are already covered by SCHIP or Medicaid. More than 80 percent of uninsured African American children and 70 percent of uninsured Hispanic children are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP, so reauthorizing and increasing support for SCHIP will be crucial to insuring this population. Prior to enrolling in SCHIP, African American and Hispanic children were much less likely than non-Hispanic White children to have a usual source of care. After they enrolled in SCHIP, these racial and ethnic disparities largely disappeared. In addition, SCHIP eliminated racial and ethnic disparities in unmet medical needs for African American and Hispanic children, putting them on par with White children. SCHIP is also important to children living in urban areas of the country. In urban areas: One in four children has healthcare coverage through SCRIP. More than half of all children whose family income is $32,180 received healthcare coverage through SCHIP. Children in Urban Areas SCHIP is also important to children living in urban areas of the country. In urban areas: One in four children has healthcare coverage through SCHIP. More than half of all children whose family income is $32,180 received healthcare coverage through SCHIP. Children in Rural Communities SCHIP is significantly important to children living in our country's rural areas. In rural areas: One in three children has healthcare coverage through SCHIP or more than half of all children whose family income is under $32,180 received healthcare coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP. Seventeen percent of children continue to be of the 50 counties with the highest rates of uninsured children, 44 are rural counties, with many located in the most remote and isolated parts of the country. Because the goal is to reduce the number of uninsured children, reauthorizing and increasing support for SCHIP will be crucial to helping the uninsured in these counties and reducing the 17 percent of uninsured. Mr. Speaker, I would much rather we extend the deadline for reauthorization of SCHIP, while we diligently and reasonably consider the unsettled issues in this debate so that millions of the most vulnerable population, including many African American and other minority children can receive the health care coverage they need to remain healthy and develop into productive citizens of this great country. It is not as important to reauthorize an inferior bill under pressure of fast-approaching deadlines as it is to ensure that we provide health care to those children who remain vulnerable to health disparities. I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring health care coverage for millions of children and reducing health disparities among the most vulnerable populations.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1657, the Science and Technology Scholarship Program. H.R. 1657 will establish a Science and Technology Scholarship Program to award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for careers in the National Weather Service and in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and satellite programs. I support H.R. 1657 because it allows more students the opportunity to pursue careers in fields that are vital in preserving our world, and will further enhance the knowledge base of our country. Mr. Speaker, we need to encourage more of our students to enter the meteorology and climatology fields. The young minds of this country are our greatest asset, and I support the effort today to encourage innovation, creative thinking, and academic competitiveness. I am confident we will reap major returns on this program long into the future. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 1657 because it will provide for the recruitment and preparation of students for careers in the National Weather Service and in Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and satellite programs. The legislation specifies a competitive program to select and award scholarships on the basis of academic merit, with consideration given to financial need and the goal of promoting the participation of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act. Individuals selected under the program agree to serve as full-time employees of NOAA, for a brief period in positions for which individuals are qualified. Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the Science Committee and a strong supporter of higher education, I have been a champion of equipping young minds with the technological and scientific knowledge necessary to compete in a globalized economy. Further, within the context of globalization, I strongly believe that this country's ability to achieve and maintain a high standard of living is dependent on the extent to which it can harness science and technology. Thus, in order to enhance the international competitiveness of the country, it is therefore critical for us to promote and support students pursing careers in meteorology, climatology and atmospheric research. For these reasons, I am proud to support H.R. 1657 and urge my colleagues to join me.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007. This important legislation would usher in important modernizations to our Nation's aging air travel system, bringing air travel in a new direction while making important safety improvements. Mr. Chairman, after 9/11, we feared that tragedy would lead to large- scale declines in air travel. Six years later, airline traffic is instead growing, but with this boom have come some negative consequences for passengers. Key among these have been airline delays: The first half of 2007 saw record high numbers of airline delays. Through July, over one-quarter of all flights were delayed, and over 6 percent of flights arrived more than 1 hour late. Projections indicate this problem is likely only to get worse, with numbers of passengers, operations, and cargo expected to triple by 2025. We need to invest now to improve our Nation's air-travel infrastructure. Even more critical than these increasingly inconvenient delays are the growing deficiencies in our aging air traffic control systems. As chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security arid Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am committed to ensuring a maximum level of safety and security for Americans traveling the skies. To this end, I believe that the modernization of air traffic control and airport infrastructure needs to be a higher priority. This legislation recognizes this crucial need. It provides $13 billion to accelerate the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. This program will enable the FAA to repair and replace existing facilities and equipment, and will also make funds available for implementing other high-priority safety-related systems. In addition, this bill includes a fiscally responsible increase in the general aviation jet fuel tax rate from 21.8 cents per gallon to 35.9 cents per gallon, and it increases the aviation gasoline tax rate from 19.3 cents per gallon to 24.1 cents per gallon. Crucially, the funds secured by these increases will be dedicated to air traffic control modernization. Mr. Chairman, I believe that safety must lie at the heart of our efforts to improve air travel. You cannot put a price on the value of keeping American travelers safe. This legislation will make important strides toward this important goal by increasing the number of aviation safety inspectors by more than one-third. It will also strengthen efforts to reduce runway incursions. In addition, this legislation will increase accountability, by requiring detailed plans for the Next Generation Air Transportation System. It also authorizes GAO and Inspector General audits and reports, which will help reduce cost overruns and delays in the air traffic control modernization program. Mr. Chairman, I support this legislation, and I am extremely pleased that it will include the amendment offered by my colleagues Mr. Lampson and Mr. Poe. This amendment eliminates a 55 percent increase in passenger facility charges, which are imposed whenever a passenger passes through an airport. These taxes create a substantial financial burden on travelers, particularly those who must pass through several airports in transit. While I do not minimize the need for funds to improve airport facilities, I believe there are far more equitable ways of obtaining this funding. Mr. Chairman, as we work to ensure funding for our Nation's vital air transit system, I look forward to working with the airports to increase contracting opportunities for minority-owned business. As airports embark on important programs of improvement, I call on them to create an even playing field, in which small- and minority-owned businesses can compete for contracts. Mr. Chairman, air travel is crucial to many Americans, who rely on safe and rapid transit to conduct business, visit family, or take a family vacation. With ever increasing strains on our air transit system, this important legislation will take air travel in a new direction--providing consumer protections for airline passengers, modernizing infrastructure, improving safety, and reducing delays for people and commerce, fuel consumption, and emissions that cause global warming. I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2761, which revises and extends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) for 15 years. I commend Chairman Frank and Congressman Capuano for their fine work in shepherding this critical legislation to the House floor. This act reminds us that the true measure of our homeland's preparedness against terrorist attack is our ability to prepare for such an attack comprehensively and that includes the insurance industry which is an essential part of our economic landscape. Mr. Chairman, the horrendous events of September 11, 2001, tested our Nation's ability to defend itself in many ways. Along with the human and emotional toll these events took on all Americans, we noticed that not only our Government but also our private industries were not sufficiently prepared to deal with the implications of a terrorist attack. Terrorist activity since September 11, 2001, has come to prove that our enemies are becoming more agile and technologically sophisticated. There is no doubt in my mind that terrorists are targeting not only our fellow citizens but also our critical infrastructure including our financial services sector, since they are determined to undermine the United States in the most fundamental of ways. History has shown that al Qaeda and other extremist organizations will explicitly direct their efforts against American citizens and property in an effort to inflict economic harm. According to a RAND policy brief, ``there is reason to believe that al Qaeda is interested in continuing its efforts to disrupt the fiscal base of the United States by attacking its borders.'' If al Qaeda and others are determined to strike our financial targets, public policymakers need to examine possible financial mechanisms to mitigate these effects. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2761 is a critical and timely legislative response to the fact that after the terrorist attacks of September 11, many insurance companies excluded terrorism events from their policies. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many insurance companies excluded terrorism events from their insurance policies. As a result, Congress passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act as a 3-year temporary program in 2002. The act created a Federal backstop to protect against terrorism related losses. In 2005, the measure was extended until 2007. TRIA is now set to expire at the end of this year, unless we today extend the law. Since its enactment, TRIA has ensured the availability of affordable terrorism risk insurance in the marketplace and thereby fostered continued urban development and real estate development in the United States. While the TRIA program has successfully kept terrorism insurance affordable, the President's Working Group on Financial Markets' most recent report concluded that a private market for terrorism reinsurance is virtually nonexistent--especially with regard to nuclear, biological chemical and radiological (NBCR) acts of terrorism. Mr. Chairman, I support H.R. 2761 because it provides federal backstop for private terrorism insurance. One of the strongest features of the bill is that it comes at no cost to the American taxpayer unless there is a terrorist attack. The security of our country can not be ensured unless we make certain that the U.S. Government works hand-in-hand with the private sector to confront terrorist threats. H.R. 2761 exemplifies this idea. The bill before us is based on the idea that it is in the best interest of our country that the Federal Government coordinate with insurers to provide financial compensation to insured parties for losses from acts of terrorism. It will contribute to the stabilization of the United States economy at a time of national crisis. Mr. Chairman, I am also in support of this bill because I believe that extending TRIA for 15 years will contribute to the long-term stability of 2 critical American industries, the construction and real estate industries. The long-term stability it provides will allow both industries to engage in large-scale building projects in areas considered high-risk for terrorism. Mr. Chairman, terrorist attacks target our country as a whole and not individual cities or States. I support the bill because it also exemplifies the critical idea that the risk from such attacks should be dealt with at the national level. H.R. 2761 should be seen as part of our broader efforts to confront and defeat the terrorist enemy. No legislative initiative, especially in such a critical field related to the security of our country, can become really effective unless it enjoys the support of the private industry it affects. Mr. Chairman, I understand that H.R. 2761 is broadly supported by insurance companies, insurance agents and brokers, policyholders, commercial developers, and construction companies. Another important provision in the bill is that it extends TRIA to cover both foreign and domestic terrorism. Currently, it covers only foreign terrorism. It also adds group life insurance to the types of insurance for which terrorism insurance coverage must be made available by insurers. It also sets the ``trigger'' level--the size of an attack at which the Federal Government would provide aid to insurers--at $50 million. Current law (P.L. 109-44), enacted in 2005, sets the level at $50 million in 2006 and $100 million in 2007. Yet another strong feature of the bill is it requires continuation of studies of the development of a private market for terrorism and risk insurance. Mr. Chairman, I support the passage of H.R. 2761 and call on my colleagues to do likewise because I strongly believe that it will strengthen our Nation's efforts to confront the terrorist threat in a more comprehensive way and will provide long-term stability for critical American industries.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow in Jena, Louisiana will be the culmination of the frustration and the outrage felt by so many across America as relates to the Jena 6. The Jena 6 is not about a few boys misbehaving, because we understand that when young people need correcting, we do so, but it is about the systemic discrimination, if you will, of African American males and Hispanic males as relates to the juvenile justice system. This young man should have been tried in the juvenile justice system, but he was tried in a system that gave him a sentence that was clearly, clearly without merit. Tomorrow we go to ask for justice not just for this young man and the other five that are there, but for young men across America who have been discriminated against, not given a second chance, and using the justice system to punish on the basis of race or ethnic background. Enough is enough. Where is the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division? Obviously, the lights are out. They need to turn their lights on.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to President Lyndon Baines Johnson. We have the honor today of having his name placed on the building of the United States Department of Education. I was not able to attend because of a health crisis in one of my middle schools in Houston. I believe that President Johnson would understand. As an original cosponsor of the legislation and certainly proud of him as a Texas President on the educational issues that he worked on, I am here today to call him the greatest education President in the history of our Nation. It is appropriate this day when we honor our Constitution, which begins in this little book by saying, ``We have organized to form a more perfect union,'' to be able to salute the education President. It is by no exaggeration that we watched the legislative history of President Johnson and have seen his commitment to education. He truly understood the importance of providing opportunities for those from prekindergarten to postgraduate school. It makes perfect sense, therefore, to name the headquarters building of the U.S. Department of Education in his honor. I congratulate my colleague Congressman Gene Green for leading on this legislation. Lyndon Baines Johnson is one of the leading figures of the 20th century. He started as a teacher at San Marcos State College, and he then became President of the United States. He also was lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War II, and served in both Houses of Congress and as Vice President of the United States and as the 36th President of the United States as well. He put his words into deed, making him a valuable asset to the education of our young people in America. He was known as ``Landslide Lyndon'' because of the narrow win that he achieved in 1948. He put that behind him and went forward to approve the Higher Education Facilities Act in 1963 as President, which authorized a 5-year program of Federal grants and loans for construction or improvement of public and private higher education academic facilities. He laid the groundwork for prioritizing as important to Americans the education of its young people. The legislation was the largest education program enacted by Congress since the National Defense Education Act of 1958. It was a broad education bill enacted in post- World War II, a period that was not tied to national defense. In 1964, Lyndon Johnson signed the Library Services Act to make high quality public libraries more accessible to both urban and rural residents, and today our children are able to go to our urban and rural libraries where those who don't have an access not only to books but now the Internet can participate in the Nation's libraries. We know President Johnson as well through the era of the Civil Rights Movement, a very turbulent movement, a tough time, a time when he stood back and then he stood up. He signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act and created opportunities for southerners and all Americans to vote and allowed for the redistricting to create the district in Atlanta for Andy Young and the district of Barbara Jordan in Texas. We are delighted as well that he was instrumental in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that allowed the furtherance of secondary and elementary education. This was the first general aid to education program ever adopted by Congress. He started in 1965 Project Head Start, where we have seen now the reauthorization of a very important and very needed head start to our young people. Just this week, I participated in a newly opened Head Start program, the legacy of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, the opportunity for low income families, low income children to have the jump-start that they need, creating the next presidents and astronauts and teachers. In 1968, he signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act amendments establishing bilingual education programs for non-English- speaking children and providing more funds for special education for disabled children. He continued, even after his leaving the White House, the organization of his own library, to focus on education. Certainly he was one of the strong supporters and encouragers of the Honorable Barbara Jordan, who then became a Member of Congress in 1972 pursuant to the Civil Rights Act and the Voter Rights Act of 1975. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Claudia Alta Taylor, who became affectionately known as Lady Bird, his wife, who then started our great Capitol Beautification Project, the Society for a More Beautiful National Capital, and worked, of course, to beautify America. They made a good partnership. As they continued in their life, they never forgot education; they never forgot beautification. President Johnson is someone who understood power, but he understood compassion. I am very delighted today, Mr. Speaker, to salute Lyndon Baines Johnson, who today now has his name on a very important building, the U.S. Department of Education. We salute you, we thank you to the late Lyndon Baines Johnson, President of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the headquarters building of the United States Department of Education was renamed in honor of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. As an original co-sponsor of the legislation and as a proud Texan, I rise today to commend this action and to pay tribute to Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States and the greatest ``Education President'' in the history of our nation. President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a consequential president. It is no exaggeration to say, Mr. Speaker, that Lyndon Baines Johnson's record of extending the benefits of education to all Americans in every region of the country, of every race and gender, irrespective of economic class or family background, remains unsurpassed. Lyndon Johnson recognized that the educated citizenry is a nation's greatest economic asset and most powerful guardian of its political liberties. Mr. Speaker, Lyndon Johnson did more than any single American, living or dead, to make the federal government a partner with states and localities in the vitally important work of educating the people of America, from pre-kindergarten to post-graduate school. It makes perfect sense, therefore, to name the headquarters building of the U.S. Department of Education in his honor. Mr. Speaker, Lyndon Baines Johnson was one of the leading figures of the 20th century. The teacher from San Marcos State College who became a president served his country in numerous, distinguished ways, including as Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II, as a Member of both houses of Congress, as Vice President of the United States, and as the 36th President of the United States. Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas. In 1927, he enrolled in Southwest Texas State Teachers College at San Marcos, Texas (Texas State University-San Marcos). He took a leave of absence for a year to serve as principal and teach fifth, sixth, and seventh grades at Welhausen School, a Mexican-American school in the South Texas town of Cotulla. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in August 1930. After graduation he taught at Pearsall High School in Pearsall, Texas, and taught public speaking at Sam Houston High School in Houston, Texas. In the spring of 1931, his debate team won the district championship. In a special election in 1937, Johnson won the U.S. House of Representatives seat representing the 10th Congressional District of Texas, defeating nine other candidates. He was re-elected to a full term in the 76th Congress and to each succeeding Congress until 1948. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Johnson became the first Member of Congress to volunteer for active duty in the armed forces (U.S. Navy), reporting for active duty on December 9, 1941. Johnson received the Silver Star from General Douglas MacArthur for gallantry in action during an aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea on June 9, 1942. President Roosevelt ordered all Members of Congress in the armed forces to return to their offices, and Johnson was released from active duty on July 16, 1942. In 1948, after a campaign in which he traveled by ``newfangled'' helicopter all over the state, Johnson won the primary by 87 votes and earned the nickname `Landslide Lyndon', and in the general election was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was elected Minority Leader of the Senate in 1953 and Majority Leader in 1955. He served in the U.S. Senate until he resigned to become Vice President in January 1961. Lyndon Johnson became the 36th President of the United States on November 22, 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. During his administration, education was one of the many areas where President Johnson blazed new ground. He pursued numerous education initiatives, and signed many landmark education bills into law. In 1963, President Johnson approved the Higher Education Facilities Act (P.L. 88-204) which authorized a five-year program of federal grants and loans for construction or improvement of public and private higher education academic facilities. This legislation was the largest education program enacted by Congress since the National Defense Education Act of 1958, and it was the first broad education bill enacted in the post-World War II period that was not tied to national defense. In 1964, Johnson signed the Library Services Act (P.L. 88-269) to make high quality public libraries more accessible to both urban and rural residents. The funds made available under this Act were used to construct as well as operate libraries, and to extend this program to cities as well as rural areas. Later that year, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act (P.L. 88-352), which among its landmark provisions authorized federal authorities to sue for the desegregation of schools and to withhold federal funds from education institutions that practiced segregation. In 1965, President Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 89-10) at the former Junction Elementary School in Stonewall, Texas, where he first attended school. Sitting beside him as he signed the bill was his first teacher, Mrs. Kathryn Deadrich Loney. This legislation was the first general aid-to-education program ever adopted by Congress, and it provided programs to help educate disadvantaged children in urban and rural areas. Later that year, he also signed the Higher Education Act (P.L. 89-329), which was the first program approved by the U.S. Congress for scholarships to undergraduate students. In 1965, President Johnson launched Project Head Start, as an eight- week summer program, to help break the cycle of poverty by providing pre-school children from low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Recruiting children from ages three to school- entry age, Head Start was enthusiastically received by education and child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the nation. Currently, Head Start continues to serve children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories, as well as many migrant children. In 1966, President Johnson signed the International Education Act (P.L. 89-698), which promoted international studies at U.S. colleges and universities. In 1968, he signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1967 (P.L. 90-247), establishing bilingual education programs for non-English speaking children, and providing more funds for special education for disabled children. Later that year, he also signed the Handicapped Children's Early Education Assistance Act (P.L. 90-538), which authorized experimental programs for disabled children of pre-school age. After leaving office, Lyndon Johnson returned to his native Texas and continued his involvement in public education. His presidential papers are housed at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum at the University of Texas, which in 1970 established the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs, The ``LBJ School,'' as is commonly known, pioneered what was then regarded as a novel approach to training for public service. Because of her respect and admiration for President Johnson, the late Barbara Jordan, the first woman and African American to represent the citizens of the Eighteenth Congressional District of Texas, joined the LBJ School upon her retirement from Congress and was one of its most distinguished faculty members from 1979 until her death in 1996. The curriculum combined courses in theory with courses that took students into government agencies to work and conduct research; the faculty included academics from various disciplines as well as practitioners from various levels of government; public service programs included an academic publishing program as well as workshops for government officials. This blend of the academic and the practical remains the distinguishing characteristic of the LBJ School and this highly effective approach to training for public service is today an accepted model for public affairs graduate programs across the country. Mr. Speaker, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who died January 22, 1973, will be remembered not only as a great President and Member of Congress, but also as the greatest champion of accessible and affordable quality education for all. President Johnson truly understood the importance of leaving no child behind, and he didn't. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I failed to note one of President Johnson's greatest achievements and that was winning the hand and heart of Claudia Alta Taylor, affectionately known by all simply as ``Lady Bird.'' As First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson started a capital beautification project (Society for a More Beautiful National Capital) to improve physical conditions in Washington, D.C., both for residents and tourists. Her efforts inspired similar programs throughout the country. She was also instrumental in promoting the Highway Beautification Act, which sought to beautify the nation's highway system by limiting billboards and by planting roadside areas. She was also an advocate of the Head Start program. Throughout his life, Lady Bird was LBJ's most trusted advisor and confidant. And our nation is better for it. Robert A. Caro, author of ``Path to Power,'' the Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Lyndon Johnson, has written that what set Lyndon Johnson apart from nearly every other politician of his era is that he alone possessed a ``natural genius for politics.'' LBJ understood that politics was the art of the possible but he knew how to transform possibilities into realities. That is why we have a Civil Rights Act, a Voting Rights Act, Head Start, Public Broadcasting Systems, Higher Education assistance. That is why Thurgood Marshall was nominated and confirmed as a member of the Supreme Court. That is why the first African American to head a Cabinet department, Dr. Robert C. Weaver, was nominated by Lyndon Johnson. For all these reasons, Mr. Speaker, it is most appropriate that the headquarters building of the Department of Education located at 400 Maryland Avenue Southwest in the District of Columbia will now and forevermore be known as the ``Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building.''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3096, the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague, Mr. Smith. This important legislation provides economic and political incentives for the Vietnamese government to improve its human rights record and ensure freedom and democracy. This bill also encourages the dissemination of information to the people of Vietnam through promoting free media and encouraging educational exchanges with the United States that will allow for a true democracy of truth and knowledge develop. Mr. Speaker, despite a recent history of warfare and an oppressive command economy, Vietnam is now making extraordinary progress. Last year, Vietnam's economy grew by over 8 percent, and it hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. In January 2007, Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization. This rapid economic progress has improved the lives of millions of Vietnamese. However, I remain concerned about the lack of political openness and reported human rights abuses. In this repressive atmosphere, the government arrests individuals who are peacefully advocating democracy as well as limiting the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of information. Vietnam today is at a crossroads, the government must now choose to accept its responsibilities to its citizens or continue upon its trajectory of shunning them, facing increasing international scrutiny. The United States and the Congress must react to the situation in Vietnam with firmness and resolve; we are unable and unwilling to ignore human rights abuses and political suppression anywhere in the world. By limiting the amount of funds the United States provides to the Vietnamese Government pending a substantial and documented improvement in its human rights record, the United States will show its commitment to the promotion of freedom and democracy throughout the world. This bill will prohibit the provision of additional non-humanitarian funds unless the Vietnamese Government has released political prisoners, made progress on respecting freedom of religion, made progress on returning church properties, allowed the Vietnamese people access to U.S. refugee programs, made progress on protecting ethnic minority rights, and has held accountable any official who is found to have been complicit in the trafficking of humans. The provisions of this legislation work to ensure that the Vietnamese Government halts any and all human rights abuses, while also respecting and ensuring the rights of its citizens. I believe that this legislation provides the necessary administrative outline that will allow the United States to pursue the best possible relationship with Vietnam and cement our position as an advocate of human rights in the realm of international affairs. The bill makes it the policy of the United States to actively promote democracy and freedom through educational exchanges, as well as offering refugee resettlement to all eligible nationals of Vietnam. This bipartisan resolution is a crucial step toward securing the promotion of freedom, democracy, and a respect for universal human rights in Vietnam, the United States and the world as a focal point of United States foreign policy. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 497, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the People's Republic of China should immediately release from custody the children of Rebiya Kadeer and Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and should refrain from further engaging in acts of cultural, linguistic, and religious suppression directed against the Uyghur people, and for other purposes. I want to congratulate my good friend and colleague, the distinguished ranking member of this Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for this important human rights resolution. It is the responsibility of the Congress to remind the government of the People's Republic of China of their obligations to live up to international standards to protect ethnic cultural identities and minority rights. Mr. Speaker, not only does the People's Republic of China systemically abuse the basic human rights of its minority citizens, but its repressive tactics extend to the members of politically active human rights advocates' families. Furthermore, the government has manipulated the international war on terrorism to justify its repressive treatment of the Muslim population living in Xinjiang, as well as encouraging Chinese migration into the region in an attempt to purify the region of its traditional Uyghur occupants. It is extremely important that the United States hold the government of the People's Republic of China responsible to international standards regarding political as well as basic human rights. The government brutally suppresses even the slightest attempts of peaceful political, religious, and cultural expression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. As a member of Congress, I feel particularly responsible to Uyghur human rights activist Rebiya Kadeer, who was arrested while she was on her way to meet representatives of our Congressional Research Service. While she was released from prison following international lobbying efforts, deemed a prisoner of consciousness by Amnesty International, upon resumption of her human rights advocacy abroad, her sons in Xinjiang were arrested and remain imprisoned to this day. This resolution also raises the human rights issues of Huseyin Cecil, a Uyghur Canadian who was recently convicted in a kangaroo court to life imprisonment on ``bogus'' charges. The Canadian government and Embassy Officials have been refused access to their citizen throughout the process, and the Chinese government has blatantly refused to accept even the most basic norms of diplomatic conduct. By supporting this resolution, the United States will alert the Chinese government that it must respect the minority rights of the Uyghur people as well as the rights of human rights advocates. The resolution requires the immediate release of the children of Rebiya Kadeer as well as Mr. Cecil so that they might all return to their families. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 518, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. H. Res. 518 acknowledges the Federation of Malaysia's accomplishments over the past 50 years. In addition, H. Res. 518 recognizes the importance to the United States' strong bilateral relationship with Malaysia and endorses this relationship to continue to prosper. It is important for the United States to make this demonstration and endorsement not only because of our relationship with Malaysia but also because we share a similar history of gaining independence and implementing democracy. Therefore, we are proudly participating in the celebration of a government that has liberated its people and provides freedom in the name of democracy. Mr. Speaker, celebrating Malaysia's 50th anniversary is significant because it shows her strength and perseverance towards maintaining freedom. Malaysia shows its determination throughout its history by gaining its independence in 1957, defeating communists soon after gaining independence, surviving through turmoil in 1960s, recession and political repression in the 1980s, and more unrest in the 1990s. Today, Malaysia is a nation of skyscrapers and microchip plants, fast highways and sprawling cities where the government talks of Malaysia's role in biotech, or conference hosting or Islamic finance. It is almost unrecognizable from the independent Federation of Malaya of 31 August 1957, when its first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra AI Haj stood tall in a specially built stadium in Kuala Lumpur and raised his right arm as the crowd echoed his three cries of ``Merdeka!'' which means freedom. At that time 60% of Malaysians were living below the national poverty line according to Dr. Richard Leete, head of the UN Development Program for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Over the past 50 years that proportion has declined remarkably and currently there are less than 5% of people in poverty in Malaysia. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 518 also gives us the opportunity to support key American values and interests. By supporting this bill the United States will essentially be supporting a multi-religious and multiracial democracy. In addition, the United States will be supporting the condemnation of racism, religious hatred, and anti-Semitism. Also, the United States will be supporting Malaysia's condemnation of all forms of terrorism and assistance in the War on Terror. Finally, the United States will be supporting the success of our 10th largest trade partner, who we are currently in talks with about a free trade agreement. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 518 and commending Malaysia on the 50th anniversary of its freedom.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 583, recognizing the remarkable example of Sir Nicholas Winton, who organized the rescue of 669 Jewish Czechoslovakian children from Nazi death camps prior to the outbreak of World War II. I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Ron Klein, for introducing this important legislation, as well as the lead Republican cosponsor, Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Mr. Speaker, today we recognize one of the great unsung heroes of World War II; a man who stood up against extraordinary evil to defend innocent children. Sir Nicholas Winton is an individual of profound moral decency and personal courage, who, in the midst of the immense darkness of World War II, offered hope that the perpetrators of horrendous atrocities would not prevail. In 1938, Nicholas Winton, a 29-year-old clerk at the London Stock Exchange, visited Prague and was immediately concerned by the refugee situation. His frequent business trips to Germany had given him first- hand knowledge of the virulent anti-Semitism codified by the 1935 Nuremberg Race laws, manifesting itself in ever-increasing attacks, harassment, and arrest of Jewish people in Germany. The 1938 Munich Agreement, which gave Hitler control over the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia and was hailed by British Prime Minister as a ``peace for our time,'' did not ease Winton's fears, and he came to recognize that Germany could not be appeased. When Winton visited Prague, he found refugee camps, full of freezing Jewish families who had fled the Sudetenland. In particular, he was alarmed that nothing was being done to help the many innocent children, trapped in the gathering storm of war. Before returning to London, he set up a system of Kindertransport, where the names of children where collected and paired with foster homes in Britain and Sweden. When families could not pay to transport their children beyond the reaches of the Nazis, Winton raised money to fund transportation and other fees. On March 14, 1939, only a day before the Nazi army occupied all of Czechoslovakia, the first 20 children left Prague. Over the next six months, a total of 669 children were sent via 8 trains to London, where families waited to shelter them. These children were spared the horror of the concentration camps by the courageous efforts of one man. Vera Gissing, one of the many children who, thanks to Winton's work, survived the war, later wrote, ``He rescued the greater part of the Jewish children of my generation in Czechoslovakia. Very few of us met our parents again: they perished in concentration camps. Had we not been spirited away, we would have been murdered alongside them.'' A 9th train was scheduled to leave on September 3, 1939, with 250 children onboard. Tragically, Great Britain entered the war that very day, and the train was prevented from leaving Prague, and it later disappeared. None of the children on board was ever heard from again, and none survived the war. In all, 15,000 Czech children were killed in the Holocaust. Nicholas Winton is a reluctant hero, who never bragged about his courageous work. He never sought recognition for his actions, and we only learned about his efforts by coincidence. His good deeds did not end with the war's conclusion, and he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire title in 1983 for his charitable work with the elderly. He was further recognized by the City of Prague and the nation of Czechoslovakia. Sir Nicholas Winton epitomizes the greatness of the human spirit. He stood against the forces of darkness and helped the powerless during one of history's blackest hours, and then never sought recognition for his extraordinary accomplishments. Six hundred and sixty-nine children were saved from suffering the horrific fate that befell so many of their friends and family members due to his daring, creativity, and compassion. I am grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to this extraordinary man, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as a citizen of Houston, the greatest city in the greatest state of the world's greatest country, and as an original co-sponsor of the legislation, I rise proudly to support H.R. 1154, which authorizes the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation for exceptional service and for lifetime contributions. The medal has been awarded to individuals from all walks of life. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Pope John Paul II, the Navajo Code Talkers, Rosa Parks, Frank Sinatra, and Elie Wiesel are among those who have been honored. Dr. Michael DeBakey is exceptionally well qualified to join the list of individuals who have received this most distinguished of honors. As I would like to discuss briefly, Dr. DeBakey is one of the greatest Americans of the 20th Century. Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey, internationally renowned physician, is known foremost for his pioneering work as a cardiovascular surgeon. Although he is widely regarded as ``the father of modern cardiovascular surgery'' due to his path-breaking introduction of now common-place procedures such as arterial bypass operations, artificial hearts, and heart transplants, Dr. DeBakey's contributions in fields diverse as military medicine, veterans affairs, and public health policy would place him in the first rank of all the practitioners of the healing arts who ever lived. Born in 1908 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Dr. DeBakey received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Tulane University. After receiving surgical training in Europe, Dr. DeBakey returned to the United States and enlisted in the Army at the onset of World War II. His service on the Surgeon General's staff during the war was pivotal; studies conducted by Dr. DeBakey and his colleagues led to the creation of ``mobile army surgical hospital'' (MASH) units that revolutionized battlefield medicine would go on to save hundred of thousands of lives in that and subsequent wars. For his wartime contributions to the Nation, Lt. Col. DeBakey was awarded the Legion of Merit Award in 1945. Following the war, Dr. DeBakey's expertise in the development of specialized medical and surgical center-systems contributed greatly to the design and formation of the Veterans Administration Medical Center System. In addition, Dr. DeBakey played a leading role in persuading the Congress to create and fund the National Library of Medicine, where records of the Nation's medical research activities are stored for the benefit of future researchers. Dr. DeBakey's arrival in Houston at the Baylor College of Medicine heralded the development of Baylor and Houston's Texas Medical Center into world-renowned centers of medical excellence. As Baylor's Chairman of Surgery and later President, Dr. DeBakey spearheaded efforts to associate Baylor with the TMC's network of hospitals, secured Federal funding for research, and recruited numerous highly-acclaimed faculty and researchers to Baylor. During that time, Dr. DeBakey was also an active and innovative clinician: introducing the Dacron artificial arteries in 1953, the first successful coronary bypass in the early 1960s, and the first successful multi-organ transplant in 1968. Dr. DeBakey's wisdom has been sought by virtually every U.S. president since Harry S. Truman. He served on presidential commissions during both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and thus provided essential support in the passage of the landmark 1965 Medicare legislation. Dr. DeBakey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 1969 and the National Medal of Science by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He currently serves as Chancellor Emeritus of the Baylor College of Medicine and continues to see patients, pursue his research, serve on national advisory committees, and consult on projects to help develop health care systems in the Middle and Far East. It is for these reasons and more, Madam Speaker, that I led the fight throughout the 107th and 108th Congress to pass legislation naming the Houston Veterans Hospital in my Congressional district after this great American. This effort finally came to fruition in the 108th Congress when the President signed into law Pub. L. 108-170. The awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey is an appropriate act of recognition from a grateful nation to a person who has devoted his life to improving life in America and around the world. I strongly support H.R. 1154 and urge my colleagues to join me in voting to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D., one of Houston's greatest sons and America's greatest citizens.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleague, Congressman Al Green, in congratulating Dr. Michael E. DeBakey for having the Congressional Gold Medal that was passed today in the House acknowledge his outstanding leadership. Dr. DeBakey is not only a great American, a great Texan, and a great Houstonian, but he is a great lover of freedom and peace. He does so by evidencing it through his wonderful hands of surgery. Dr. DeBakey was in World War II. He established the MASH unit that is now saving lives of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. His wisdom has been sought by virtually every U.S. President since Harry S. Truman. He served on Presidential commissions during both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and thus provided essential support in the passage of the landmark 1965 Medicare legislation. Dr. DeBakey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction in 1969 and the National Medal of Science from President Ronald Reagan in 1987. I want to thank Dr. DeBakey and my former colleague, Chris Bell, for initiating the legislation that will allow us to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. He is deserving on his birthday of September 7 when he reached almost 100 years old. He is deserving of this great honor. We in Houston love him and admire him. We thank him for the service he has given and all of the lives that he has served. This is a great day when we have passed legislation to honor Dr. Michael E. DeBakey of Houston Texas, the Texas Medical Center, with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished chairwoman of the Ethics Committee, but also our leader on the Special Order hour tonight. What a timely hour that you have allowed us to participate in. I add my appreciation as well to the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and as well the leaders of the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus, of which I am a member. And so I raise the question tonight, where do we go from here? And I have standing in alongside of me the growing numbers of those fallen in battle from the 18th Congressional District and surrounding areas. Those faces represent families. They are husbands, wives, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers. They have left grandmothers and grandfathers. They have left family and friends. And it is interesting, as I look at a headline in the Houston Chronicle, it says: ``America Has No Exit Strategy But Our President Does.'' And the gist of the article is that the exit strategy for President Bush is his retirement. For it is evident from his remarks last week that this administration has no exit strategy other than to say, I will not have the exiting of our troops. I will not cease the loss of lives until I leave the White House. I will not have the legacy of the book being written to say that I worked with the United States Congress, the American people, listened to their voices, understood that this was a political solution and not a military solution, but I will not sit down and reconcile with my Congress, with the American people, and bring our troops home as heroes. No, I am going to stay to the end and leave this to the next President. A GI who died had criticized the war in Iraq. Seven soldiers signed a letter. Shortly thereafter, the soldier from Texas, Sergeant Omar Mora, died, one of his other fellow signers of the letter asking why are we here. Criticizing the war in Iraq. Soldiers on the battlefield. It is interesting that what is represented is that there is one mind in Iraq of these soldiers, but these soldiers are patriots who want to ask the question based upon their constitutional rights. Tragically, as the picture will show, this young man lost his life, and a fellow soldier who signed the letter likewise lost his life. Another headline: ``Texas City Sergeant Dies in Iraq Accident.'' Even in the last 24 hours, we are finding that those contractors, paid-for contractors, American contractors, one of our defense contractors, if you will, wound up killing 10-or-so Iraqis under the allegation that they were attacking a State Department envoy. We want those envoys to be protected, officials traveling around, but what they wind up doing is bringing Black Hawk helicopters. And these are private contractors making $100,000 a year shooting up innocent Iraqis, creating then a greater target of our own military personnel. What is going on in Iraq? So, Mr. Speaker and Madam Chairwoman, I rise today to suggest that it is time to declare a military success. This is not a question of agreeing with the ``Mission Accomplished'' of the President of the United States. This is to separate the political reconciliation that must be done by the Maliki government and surrounding Mid East states to resolve the conflict between Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds to the work of our soldiers. Our soldiers have done their job. So H.R. 930, the Military Success Act of 2007, wants to declare a military success. Saddam Hussein is no longer there. We have had an election where we have elected a democratic government. And so all that our military has been asked to do, they have done it. We have even gone further with the surge and collaborated with Sunnis and created a peaceful area in Anbar, but yet the sheik was assassinated. Why? Because you must have political reconciliation. And while we stand here on the floor tonight, soldiers are dying. These faces are growing. Mr. President, do you understand that the American people have spoken? And this is not cut and run, but this is recognizing that we are spending $10 billion a month, which translates into $329,670,330 per day, $13,736,264 per hour, $228,938 per minute, and $3,816 per second. I believe that we should move to the floor of the House, declare our soldiers victorious in the work they were assigned to do, and bring our troops home. It is important to note that any false representation that bringing home troops in December is a reflection of the voices of the American people is not true. Having 130,000 troops in 2008, July, does nothing to bring our troops home. It is a reduction of the surge. And so I am asking that our troops be brought home in a safe and secure manner so that our equipment can be brought out and that the announcement that the troops will begin to redeploy begins. This is not a situation of fight them there or fight them here. This is not typographing this to the enemy. The enemy is well aware of everything we do. The President knows that General Petraeus said that al Qaeda was not there when Saddam Hussein was there. They were not there when we entered Iraq. They got there in 2005. And, therefore, it is important for the Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds to join together to fight al Qaeda. Everyone knows that Iraq is a place that is a training ground for al Qaeda. So I think it is important, as I close, to be able to again offer our hand of reconciliation to the President, sit down with the leadership of this Congress. As Speaker Pelosi said, don't let this be a 10-year war. It is already longer than World War II. Save the lives of these valiant soldiers, rebuild our military, and let the political process in Iraq work so that peace and reconciliation can be brought forward. It is a tragedy, and I offer my greatest sympathy to those who have fallen in battle; those who have been injured, some thousands, 22,000, 25,000, and growing. We must bring our troops home. We must listen to the voices of the American people. These are our heroes. The heroes are still standing in Iraq. Bring them home with yellow ribbons. Bring them home with celebration. It is time to vote and pass H.R. 930, the Military Success Act of 2007. Our soldiers have been successful in duty

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, may I also thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for gathering on the floor tonight to discuss this important topic. This Congress will not, as the previous Republican Congress did, continue to rubber stamp what we believe to be an ill-conceived war. As we continue to receive reports on the situation in Iraq, it is important that we continue to look forward, to the future of Iraq beyond a U.S. military occupation. Despite the multitude of mistakes perpetrated by President Bush and former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, our troops have achieved a military success in ousting Saddam Hussein and assisting the Iraqis in administering a democratic election and electing a democratic government. However, only the Iraqi government can secure a lasting peace. Time and time again, the Iraqi government has demonstrated an inability to deliver on the political benchmarks that they themselves agreed were essential to achieving national reconciliation. Continuing to put the lives of our soldiers and our national treasury in the hands of what by most informed accounts, even by members of the Bush Administration, is an ineffective central Iraqi government is irresponsible and contrary to the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the American people. Our nation has already paid a heavy price in Iraq. Over 3770 American soldiers have died. In addition, more than 27,660 have been wounded in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003. June, July, and August have marked the bloodiest months yet in the conflict, and U.S. casualties in Iraq are 62 percent higher this year than at this time in 2006. This misguided, mismanaged, and misrepresented war has claimed too many lives of our brave servicemen; its depth, breadth, and scope are without precedent in American history. In addition, the U.S. is spending an estimated $10 billion per month in Iraq. This $10 billion a month translates into $329,670,330 per day, $13,736,264 per hour, $228,938 per minute, and $3,816 per second. Mr. Speaker, we are here today because the Congress has listened to the American people, and demanded accountability, oversight, and competence. We saw fit to demand benchmark reports because the American people lost confidence in the Rubber Stamp Republican Congress and the Bush-Cheney team. The American people want a new strategy for success in Iraq. The Foreign Affairs Committee, of which I am proud to be a member, has recently heard a string of reports from military and civilian officials about the political, military, social, and economic situation in Iraq. Two weeks ago, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) informed the Congress that the Iraqi government has met only three of the eighteen legislative, economic, and security benchmarks. Despite the surge, despite increasing U.S. military involvement, the Iraqi government has not made substantial progress toward stabilizing their country. President Bush rationalized his surge, over opposition by myself and other House Democrats, by arguing it would give the Iraqi government ``the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas,'' bringing about reconciliation between warring factions, Sunni and Shia. However, non-partisan assessments, such as last week's GAO report, have illustrated that escalating U.S. military involvement in Iraq is instead hindering that nation's ability to move beyond the devastation of war and death, to build a successful new government, and to create a stable and secure environment. In the seven months since the surge began, increased American military presence has not been able to end the relentless cycles of sectarian violence that continue to plague Iraq. Nor have larger numbers of U.S. troops been successful in unifying and strengthening the Iraqi government. Instead, the security situation continues to deteriorate. Sectarian violence remains high, and even the Bush Administration has noted the unsatisfactory progress toward political reconciliation. The Sunni-led insurgency continues, with insurgents conducting increasingly complex and well-coordinated attacks. The August 2007 National Intelligence Estimate cited ongoing violence, stating, ``the level of overall violence, including attacks on and casualties among civilians, remain high; Iraq's sectarian groups remain unreconciled.'' The report went on to note that al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) ``retains the ability to conduct high-profile attacks,'' and ``Iraqi political leaders remain unable to govern effectively.'' The ever-increasing sectarian violence is causing immense daily challenges for Iraqis. Millions have been displaced, and an Iraqi Red Crescent Organization has reported an increase of nearly 630,000 internally displaced persons from February 2007 to July 2007. The same organization predicts an additional 80,000 to 100,000 persons are displaced each month. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that 1.8 million Iraqis are now refugees, with an additional 40,000 to 50,000 fleeing to neighboring countries each month. Iraq has become a humanitarian disaster, and one that continues to get worse every day. We are not here today to debate whether there has been some decrease in violence in Baghdad. The United States military is a skilled and highly proficient organization, and where there are large numbers of U.S. troops, it is unsurprising that we see fewer incidents of violence. However, it is our responsibility to take a longer-term view. The United States will not and should not permanently prop up the Iraqi government and military. U.S. military involvement in Iraq will come to an end, and, when U.S. forces leave, the responsibility for securing their nation will fall to Iraqis themselves. And so far, we have not seen a demonstrated commitment by the Iraqi government. In addition, evidence suggests that not only is increased U.S. military presence in Iraq not making that nation more secure, it may also be threatening our national security by damaging our ability to respond to real threats to our own homeland. The recently released video by Osama bin Laden serves to illustrate that President Bush has not caught this international outlaw, nor brought him to justice. Instead, he has diverted us from the real war on terror to the war of his choice in Iraq. The former chairman and vice chairman of the 9/11 commission, Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, share this view. In a recent op-ed, Kean and Hamilton note that our own actions have contributed to a rise of radicalization and rage in the Muslim world. Kean and Hamilton write that ``no conflict drains more time, attention, blood, treasure, and support from our worldwide counterterrorism efforts than the war in Iraq. It has become a powerful recruiting and training tool for al- Qaeda.'' Mr. Speaker, our troops in Iraq did everything we asked them to do. We sent them overseas to fight an army; they are now caught in the midst of an insurgent civil war and political upheaval. I have, for some time now, advocated for Congressional legislation declaring a military victory in Iraq, and recognizing the success of our military. Our brave troops have completed the task we set for them; it is time now to bring them home. Our next steps should not be a continuing escalation of military involvement, but instead a diplomatic surge. This is why I introduced H.R. 930, the ``Military Success in Iraq and Diplomatic Surge for National and Political Reconciliation in Iraq Act of 2007.'' This legislation would make diplomacy and statecraft tools of the first, rather than the last, resort. We must seek constructive engagement with Iraq, its neighbors, and the rest of the international community, as we work to bring resolution to this calamitous conflict that has already gone on far too long. Democrats in Congress will not continue to rubber stamp the President's ill-conceived war effort. Last November, the American people spoke loudly and clearly, demanding a new direction to U.S. foreign policy, and we here in Congress are committed to seeing that change be brought about. We are working to see the extensive funds currently being spent to sustain the war in Iraq go to important domestic programs and to securing our homeland against real and imminent threats. President Bush and Vice-President Cheney have been given numerous chances and ample time by the American people and the Congress to straighten out the mess in Iraq. They have failed. It is pure fantasy to imagine that President Bush's military surge has created the necessary safety and security to meet economic, legislative, and security benchmarks. It is time for a new strategy, a new plan that will encourage Iraqis to take charge of their own destiny, seek constructive and sustained regional engagement, and substitute the ill- advised military surge for a thoughtful diplomatic one. It is time to be realistic and pragmatic, to recognize that our troops achieved what they were initially sent in for and that continued U.S. military engagement is not bringing about the desired results.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 643. I support this resolution because although six years have passed since that fateful, horrific day, the pain and agony and sense of loss still endures in the hearts and minds of the American people. More than 3,000 of our countrymen had the fullness of their lives snatched away from their families, their friends, and the communities they loved and that loved them. We can never forget what happened that day to the victims. Or to those who sacrificed their lives to save them. Or to our country, which suffered a wound to the body politic unlike any in previous history. And in remembering what happened to us six years ago, we are reminded what we must do now and in the future to redeem all of the lives lost that fateful day. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, the Nation watched in horror as the World Trade Center was transformed into a human inferno that claimed thousands of innocent lives. 9/11 was a despicable act of faceless cowards who have no respect for human life. Across the United States and around the world, people of all ages and walks of life collectively united during a time of tremendous sorrow and despair. It was an unforgettable day that transformed the lives of many and united Americans in a way this Nation had not seen since World War II. Mr. Speaker, during this commemoration Americans turn toward each other. We seek to embrace, we seek to love, we still mourn the nearly 3,000 Americans whose lives were viciously taken on September 11, 2001. I stand before this House today simply to offer my deepest sympathy and that of my constituents of the 18th Congressional District of the State of Texas. Six years ago, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on our country, many brave people heroically, tirelessly, and courageously participated in an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous rescue and recovery effort, in many cases voluntarily putting their own well-being at risk. Others jeopardized their lives to bring the terrorist to justice or to bring justice to the terrorized. The war in Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom was a just war. An attack on one, was an attack on all. It was an attack on our way of life. It was an attack on our deepest and most cherished beliefs. It was an attack on the freedom and liberty embedded in the foundation of this Nation. Since that memorable day our war efforts have been deferred from its original purpose and many lives lost have yet to receive justice. Six years later and Osama bin Laden still roams free. American blood and treasure are being depleted for a country unyielding to change. As Operation Enduring Freedom showed, a united America can never be defeated. The indomitable Armed Forces of the United States swiftly toppled the Taliban and liberated Afghanistan and was hard on the heels of Osama bin Laden, who was trapped in Tora Bora. But before they could bring this mass murderer to justice, they were inexplicably diverted to Iraq, where the President had launched a new war against an enemy that posed no immediate threat to the security of America and had no involvement in the attack of September 11. In dividing our armed forces between Afghanistan and Iraq, this Administration divided the American people and alienated friendly nations who were helping us to win the Global War on Terror. Mr. Speaker, we will do everything in our power to prevent a tragedy like 9/11 from ever occurring again. Americans will not live in fear of a terrorist like Osama bin Laden. First responders should and will be equipped with all the tools necessary to meet the needs of the American people. Thus, today we celebrate the unsung heroes, and the families who survived them, and rededicate ourselves to protecting and securing the lives of the American people from any future threats. So horrific and traumatic were the events of September 11 that is engraved in our minds as well as our hearts. A day when time literally stood still and people from all walks of life came together. A day where many of us can vividly recall exactly where we were and what we were doing. September 11 was a day that shook the whole world witnessed. Mr. Speaker, throughout the history of the United States there have been few events that have had transformative impact on the people of the country. For my parents' generation the death of President Franklin Roosevelt was such an occasion. For my generation, the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 is a moment that lives with us forever. The explosion of the Shuttle Challenger in 1986 left a traumatic and indelible impression on my children's generation. The morning of September 11, 2001 is a day all living Americans will remember forever. Today, six years later, my heart still grieves for those who perished on flights United Airlines 93, American Airlines 77, American Airlines 11, and United Airlines 175. When the sun rose on the morning of September 11, we were all oblivious to the devastation that would later plague the nation. None of us knew that it would end in an inferno in the magnificent World Trade Center Towers in New York City and the Pentagon and in the grassy fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. How I wish we could have hugged and kissed and held each of the victims one last time. I stand here remembering those who still suffer, whose hearts still ache over the loss of so many innocent and interrupted lives. My prayer is that those who lost a father, a mother, a husband, a wife, a child, or a friend will in the days and years ahead take comfort in the certain knowledge that they have gone on to claim the greatest prize, a place in the Lord's loving arms. And down here on the ground, their memory will never be forgotten. We will always remember September 11 as the day that brought the whole world together. Many people lost their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, as hard as it is to believe, out of a tragedy so overwhelming and horrific, something good and great emerged. In the midst of September 11, there were no Republicans or Democrats. There were no Northerners or Southerners or West or East Coasters. We were not Red State or Blue State. We were all simply Americans. On that day, we were united in our shock and anger and sadness. More importantly, we were united in our resolve to defend our country and protect the freedoms that have made America the greatest country in the history of the world. As we continue to pray for the families of the victims and reflect upon that defining moment in our history, we are inspired by the fact that we are a people determined to defend our way of life. But for the better part of six years, we had allowed ourselves to be held hostage by the fear and anger that overwhelmed us on September 11. Over time hearts have healed and a new sense of hope and security has developed amongst the people of this nation. Since that horrific day many lives have continued to be sacrificed and it is time to bring our troops home and unite once more as a nation that serves as the home of the brave and the free. As we move forward we hold true to the fact that 9/11 is a day that we will never forget. September 11 will never and should never be just another day in the hearts and minds of all people of the United States; but rather a day to reflect on the lives lost and the undying hope that prevails within the hearts and minds of the American people. Although the future is uncertain we can hold true to the strong will and compassion that united our nation during a day meant to divide and destroy us. We, the 110th Congress have an obligation to protect the American people from harm and ensure that a tragedy such as 9/11 never happens again. Mr. Speaker, I believe all Americans want their country to remain safe, free, and invulnerable to another cowardly attack like the one we experienced six years ago. We owe that much to the Americans who lost and gave their lives. We owe it to them to ensure that their children and loved ones will never again experience such pain, suffering, and loss. We can do this. We must do this. But to bring this new future into being, we need a new direction from the present course. I urge all members to join me in supporting H. Res. 643.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great American and a member of this House. Paul E. Gillmor was a veteran, lawyer, businessman, and Member of Congress from Ohio. Congressman Gillmor, who died on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, was a respected member of this body and respected by all who knew him. He was actually a legislator's legislator. He was known often to put aside partisan politics and reach across the aisle to legislate in a bipartisan manner for the best interests of the American people. In 1961 he received a bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. Although he was a lifelong Buckeye, Paul Gillmor received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. From 1965 to 1996, he served his country in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate, attaining the rank of captain. He married Karen Lako, who also served in the Ohio Senate, in 1983. He had five children: daughters Linda and Julie and sons Paul and twins Adam and Connor. Before he came to Capitol Hill in 1988, he spent 22 years in the Ohio statehouse where he became the senate president for three terms. He got to know the people, because half of this work is getting to know the people. His presence will be greatly missed and we all mourn his loss and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. More interested in policy than in seeking the limelight, Paul Gillmor focused his time here in the House squarely on the needs of his constituents. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, he was deeply involved in consumer issues, including protecting consumers from unfair credit report practices. He also worked to preserve our history by supporting and improving sites honoring our Nation's Presidents. Paul Gillmor was unanimously elected in 2006 by representatives of the 26 NATO countries to serve as Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. As vice president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Congressman Gillmor was the highest ranking American in this highly esteemed international organization. Most recently, Ohio has been plagued by scandals arising from predatory lending, and Representative Gillmor was a leader in trying to help families and communities that had been subject to predatory lending, pulling together the Ohio delegation to identify ways we can impact our neighborhoods and support laws that could impact families that had been subject to predatory lending. Mr. Speaker, a dear colleague has fallen but he will not be forgotten. We are all saddened by our loss but we are happy to have served with him. Our prayers and condolences go out to his widow Karen, his five children, and to thousands of his friends around the Nation. He touched so many lives during his career in politics, and he will truly be missed by me and the American people.