Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink. Patsy spoke for the women of the world, children of the world, and really broke so many barriers that she also was a role model for women and children of the world. She was an aggressive fighter for what was best for citizens of the second district in Hawaii, but also for the Nation and for the whole world. She was a tireless supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus and its agenda. She was a disciplined and focused advocate for the voiceless, and she was my dear friend. As heaven gains another angel, we in Congress mourn our unfortunate loss. May God be with the Mink family. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay final tribute to my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Patsy Mink. Congresswoman Mink was able to break through racial and gender barriers to attain goals that others thought were impossible. Her career was a series of firsts: the first woman of color elected to Congress, the first Asian-American woman to practice law in Hawaii, the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Territorial House. Representative Mink entered this world as a fighter for equality. Born in Maui in December of 1928, from her earliest years, she was encouraged to excel in academic courses. As a four year old, she recalled how she hung onto the shirt of her older brother, demanding, and eventually winning the right to accompany him to the first grade. As Patsy Mink grew up in Hawaii, she saw her life change overnight with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She turned 14 the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. At that time, anyone who was looked up to in the Japanese community was seen as a threat; this included her father. He was taken away for questioning but returned to the family. Patsy realized that anyone could be arrested for no reason except that they were Japanese. Mink attended Maui High School, where she played basketball at a time when girls played half-court because, as Mink put it, ``they said it was too strenuous for us.'' When she ran for student body president during her junior year in high school and won that campaign, she began her unofficial political career. In 1944 she graduated as high school class valedictorian. Representative Mink went on to attend college at the University of Hawaii, but transferred to the University of Nebraska where she faced a policy of segregated student housing. She arrived at the campus and was housed at the international house. When she found that this housing was for the ``colored'' students, she was outraged. Patsy wrote a letter of protest and sent it to the local newspaper. The accompanying protests and objections resulted in the University changing its policies. However, Patsy was not able to enjoy the changes she had caused to be made because she became very ill and had to return to Hawaii where she finished her baccalaureate degree. She returned to the University of Hawaii to prepare for medical school and graduated with a degree in zoology and chemistry. However, in 1948, none of the twenty medical schools to which she applied would accept women. She decided to study law and was accepted by the University of Chicago because they considered her a ``foreign student.'' Choosing not to inform the University that Hawaii was an American territory, she obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1951. Getting a job in the legal field was not easy for a woman at that time, but that did not deter Patsy. No one was willing to hire her, even as a law clerk. She worked at the University of Chicago Law School library until the eighth month of her pregnancy. Six months after giving birth, she, her husband John and baby daughter Gwendolyn moved to Hawaii. When she found no law firm that would hire a woman, she decided to start her own firm. She became the first Japanese-American woman lawyer in Hawaii. She also taught at the University of Hawaii. In 1965, Patsy Mink was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and began the first of six consecutive terms in the House of Representatives. Again, she was the first woman of color to be elected to Congress. Mink's ability to build coalitions for progressive legislation continued during her tenure in Congress. She introduced the first comprehensive Early Childhood Education Act and authorized the Women's Educational Equity Act. Mink believed one of her most significant accomplishments in Congress was Title IX of the Education Act, which she helped authored in 1972. It mandated gender equality in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title IX has become the major tool for women's fuller participation, not only in sports, but in all aspects of education. The law promotes equality in school athletics. Scholarship money for women increased from $100,000 in 1972 to $179 million in 1997, but was equally important in opening academics. Representative Mink was an early opponent of the Vietnam War and accompanied fellow Representative Bella Abzug, D-N.Y., to Paris to talk to participants in the Vietnam War peace talks. She supported women's rights, was against the death penalty and had as her spending priorities education, housing and health. Mink's strong liberal stands led conservative opponents to dub her ``Patsy Pink.'' Her career included an appointment by President Jimmy Carter as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs from 1977 to 1978. Patsy Mink returned to Washington, DC in 1991 and has been here ever since. Congresswoman Patsy Mink was an aggressive fighter for what was best for citizens of the second district in Hawaii, as well as this nation as a whole. She was a tireless supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was a disciplined and focused advocate for the voiceless. And she was my dear friend. As Heaven gains another angel, we in Congress morn our unfortunate loss. May God be with the Mink family.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have heard some powerful words this evening from my colleagues on how important it is that Congress pass election reform legislation, and pass it quickly. Although it will not affect the November elections, they are approaching and there simply is no time to waste. As we all know, the most fundamental issue facing all of us during this Congress is restoring the public's faith in democracy. To restore that faith in democracy, we must make sure that every vote cast is counted. We have said repeatedly that we have been attacked because of the jealously of our freedom. We must make that freedom real, and the only way we can do that is to make sure that every vote cast is counted and is cast without intimidation. The legislation we have passed will take important steps toward protecting the sacred right to vote. It is time that we take action. House and Senate conferees have come so close to a compromise on H.R. 3295 and now they must finish the job. I call upon members of the conference committee to reach agreement before October 1 and submit the legislation to us for final passage. I am in strong support of this motion to instruct. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This motion instructs the conferees on H.R. 3295, the Help America Vote Act, to complete their work and file a conference report prior to October 1, 2002. Mr. Speaker, less than a week ago I joined a number of Members at this podium and recounted how allegations of voter intimidation, inaccurate voter registration lists, arbitrary ballot counting standards, and antiquated machinery deprived so many citizens of their right to vote and have their vote counted during the 2000 election. Recent primary elections in Florida and elsewhere have only confirmed that the problems of 2000 will not go away until we pass and enact meaningful election reform legislation reform standards, and we must also provide State and local authorities with resources to improve their election systems from top to bottom. It is really very simple, and so I ask how many times do we have to come to this podium and plead for reform. I am here to tell my colleagues that we will come before them I guess as many times as it takes. This is a number one priority for the Congressional Black Caucus because we believe so strongly in democracy, and this is the crux of democracy. There is no democracy when we shut out the first amendment right and not allow people to cast their votes that are eligible and have those votes counted. So we cannot be silenced until this body answers the call for election reform. We in Congress have within our power, indeed almost within our very grasp, legislation that will take giant strides to remedy the disenfranchisement of the last election. It has not been an easy fight to get where we are today, but we are just inches away from the comprehensive legislation that will secure the constitutional right to vote for millions of Americans. We must pass this bill, and we must send it to the President for his signature before another day passes. I am proud to say that in the fight for election reform we have had many foot soldiers. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who has been battling every day since the 2000 elections to extend these important protections to all of our Nation's voters. His leadership is getting us to where we are today on this legislation. It has been limitless, and I thank him for everything he has done. In that same spirit, I must also thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his hard work in helping us bridge the differences between the two bills. Indeed, I believe that all members of the conference committee deserve our gratitude for their work on this challenging task. We also have had the terrific support from our colleagues from the other Chamber, and I would like to especially commend the efforts of Senator Christopher Dodd, who has worked alongside the caucus and the civil rights communities to make certain that the issues we care about most deeply are being addressed in the final bill. Finally, I must thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and, in particular, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for working tirelessly. We have invested so much energy and so much passion in seeing the goal of making every vote count realized, and now I salute all of the people who have remained steadfast. As many of my colleagues know, the CBC has been holding hearings and forums and speaking out continuously for the past 21 months on this issue. I believe when it comes to election reform, yet again, we have served as the conscience of the Congress. Soon after the Supreme Court announced its decision on Bush v. Gore, the caucus resolved to develop legislation that addressed these spectacular failures in the 2000 election. We resolved to make that legislation our number one priority. We fought hard to get the Help America Vote Act introduced and passed by the House of Representatives, and we worked with the Senate to make sure that the protections they passed were even stronger than those contained in our bill. Mr. Speaker, these bills are not far apart and we cannot reconcile them. This is why I stand here before my colleagues today to encourage conferees to complete their work and send us a bill that can be signed into law. We also know that the legislation before the conferees is not perfect. I do not think I have ever seen a perfect bill, but it is a tremendous first step toward meaningful reform. The legislation will help protect and secure an electoral system in which all Americans are able to register as voters, remain on the rolls once registered, and vote free from harassment. Mr. Speaker, our democracy begins and ends with the fundamental right to vote. Congress must act immediately to ensure that every American has the right to vote and to have their votes counted. Time is running out for the 107th Congress. We have come so close to the compromise, and the price for not passing election reform is far too high. It is imperative that the conference committee finish their hard work and come to an agreement before October 1 because we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 7(c) of the rule XXII, I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 3295 tomorrow. The form of the motion is as follows: Mrs. Eddie Bernice Johnson moves that the managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendments to the bill H.R. 3295 be instructed to take such actions as may be appropriate to ensure that a conference report is filed on the bill prior to October 1, 2002.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this urgent motion to instruct conferees on election reform. Mr. Speaker, the most fundamental issue facing all of us during this Congress is restoring the public's faith in democracy. To restore that faith in democracy, we must make sure that every vote cast is counted. Equal protection of voting rights laws requires an electoral system in which all Americans are able to register as voters, remain on the rolls once registered, and vote free from harassment. Ballots must not be misleading. And, again, every vote must count. In the 2000 election, Florida was not the only State where American citizens were denied the full exercise of their constitutional franchise. It happened all over this Nation. Moreover, most of those excluded from democracy were Americans of color. That is why election reform has been the number one legislative priority of the Congressional Black Caucus. We will not be silenced until this Congress answers this call. This is not, however, a black issue or a white issue or a brown issue. It is an American issue. It is a red, white, and blue issue. The survival of our democracy depends on the accuracy and integrity of our election system. Just last week, we received yet another wake-up call from the Sunshine State reminding us that the time for election reform is now and that we must do whatever it takes to pass this election reform bill immediately. I would like to thank Senator Dodd, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) whom I have worked very closely with, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), and all the others, most especially the African American delegation from Florida, for bringing the information and offering to be available to answer any questions at any time. I know that this election reform conference committee has been working diligently and they have come close to a compromise on this issue. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that soon, before we recess, this conference report will come out for us to vote on in an acceptable manner. Now that we have come so close to compromise and now that the next round of Federal elections is right upon us, even though it probably will not affect it, the price for not passing election reform during this Congress is far too high. It is imperative that the conference committee continue its hard work and come to an agreement before the end of this month. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away. I know, Mr. Speaker, how many hours the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and Senator Dodd have spent working on this issue. I have talked to someone every day on it. It is time for us to finalize this conference report and bring it forth.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in proclaiming September 15-September 21, 2002, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities week. The quest for reasonable parity in the American social order for African Americans rests with education. It is fair to state that the HBCUs of America have been and continue to be the equal opportunity colleges and universities of the higher education institutions in America. The racial progress made socially, economically, politically and educationally by African-Americans has been made because of the existence of these institutions. Currently, there are 118 historically black colleges and universities in the United States. A brief review of the history of education for African-Americans in this country will reveal that the HBCUs were elementary schools for the freed slaves and their progenies. They were secondary schools for African-Americans when there was not a public education system. And HBCUs became colleges to provide higher education programs for African-Americans when the time was appropriate and education could be sustained by a critical mass of African- Americans who had graduated with secondary education achieved. They were only a group of colleges and universities which produced a critical mass of well educated African-Americans who were teachers, lawyers, doctors, ministers, social workers, pharmacists, etc. for leadership in the Black community. Because of the existence of the schools, repressive segregated laws were challenged, our right to vote was achieved, as well as our right to participate in every facet of the American society. As such, these institutions have proven their ability to transform the prospective and quality of life for African-American citizens. They stand poised now to provide another great service to America and to African-American people. The HBCUs are ready to respond to the call of our President to leave no child behind. We propose now to engage the HBCUs in a national urban thrust to equalize the college going rate for urban youth. In so doing, we transform urban America. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been proclaimed the salvation of black folks. HBCUs are credited with making higher education financially attainable for those whom otherwise would not be able to afford post-secondary education. They tout significant success rates because they are good at providing remedial preparation for students who start out with weak high-school backgrounds. These institutions provide a supportive social, cultural and racial environment for people of color who are seeking a college education and perform a remarkable task of educating almost 85 percent of the country's Black College graduates. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have educated 75 percent of Black Ph.Ds, 46 percent of all Black business executives, 50 percent of Black engineers, and 80 percent Federal judges. In addition, the historically Black health-professional schools have trained an estimated 40 percent of the nation's Black dentists, 50 percent of Black pharmacists and 75 percent of the nation's Black veterinarians. HBCUs have educated an estimated 50 percent of the nation's Black attorneys and 75 percent of Black Military officers. They have produced Congressional representatives, state legislators, writers, musicians, actors, engineers, journalists, teachers, scholars, judges, pilots, activists, business leaders, lawyers and doctors. Today I ask that my fellow members of Congress salute and acknowledge Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the presidents, faculties, staff, and trustees of the 118 institutions for their vigorous and persistent efforts in support of equal opportunity in higher education. I also ask that Congress further commend the students who benefit from Historically Black Colleges and Universities for their pursuit of academic excellence and request that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested groups to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for historically black colleges and universities in the United States.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep skepticism the Homeland Security Act of 2002. We are rushing to undertake the most dramatic reorganization of the federal government in decades, and I am uncertain whether the particulars of this plan are well thought out. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee I have heard my friend Mr. Oberstar speak about the deliberative process that went into the creation of the Department of Transportation in 1966. That effort took over 9 months, and the final product has produced lasting benefits for Americans. In comparison, we are rushing this bill in less than 9 weeks. We are pulling together disparate elements from all over the federal government. I am uncertain whether these pieces really do fit together, and even if they do, it will take years for them to come together as a coherent department that protects the homeland. I strongly object to partisan manner in which the bill's authors are, under the guise of homeland security, assaulting the civil service protections of our nation's federal workers. There is no justification for this proposal. If we are to maintain the morale and professionalism of employees of the new department, they will need the basic protections that we afford all other federal workers. Finally, I wish to reiterate that the provisions to push back by one year the deadline for deployment of EDS equipment at the nation's airports do not belong in this bill. As I indicated earlier, the prudent course of action is to wait for the DOT IG's recommendation forthcoming in late August. We will have plenty of time to address this issue when we come back from the recess. Because of the aforementioned reasons, I intend to vote against final passage today. I do so with great misgiving because it would be ideal for members to stand together in a united front in our war against terrorism. It is my sincere hope that the Senate will fix the defects in the bill we pass today and that conferees will produce a final product I can support.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a brewing crisis in southern Africa that threatens the lives of millions of men, women, and children. The scourge of hunger and malnutrition is far too common around the world, yet there is compelling evidence that we should be particularly concerned about what is taking place in six different countries. The World Food Program reports that many families in the region have resorted to eating such foods as unripe melons and poisonous berries just to have something to fill the stomach. The numbers are staggering--7 million people require immediate assistance, and this number is expected to rise to 13 million by the end of this year. When people are so desperate to eat that they harvest their unripe crops and consume their seed corn, it is time that the world takes notice and lends a hand. Mr. Speaker, the causes for the worst food crisis in southern Africa in more than a decade are many. Irregular rains and prolonged drought have upset the rhythm of the planting season and destroyed crops. The HIV/AIDS crisis has seriously harmed the productive capacity of many families since in some areas up to 20 percent of the adult population is infected with the virus. The frailty caused by pre-existing malnutrition has exacerbated the effects of hunger and disease. And corrupt governments have sometimes disrupted food production and distribution. As the breadbasket of the world, it is imperative that United States increase our efforts to provide immediate assistance to the millions of starving people in southern Africa. Mr. Speaker, we also must address the root causes of this crisis. We need to promote more efficient farming methods, such as improved irrigation and new agricultural technologies. We need to encourage good governance and political stability in the region. And we need to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the region. But for now, we must do what we can in the short term so that we can save as many of these people as possible.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues to draw attention to the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic. This week, the 16th Annual International AIDS Conference was held in Barcelona, Spain. The conference highlighted the fact that, contrary to previous beliefs, the global AIDS crisis has not peaked and is only getting worse. According to UNAIDS, 40 million people live with HIV/ AIDS in the world today; 28.5 million of them are in sub-Saharan Africa. Three million of those infected are children younger than 15. Last year, five million people were newly infected with HIV, and three million died of AIDS. In Botswana, almost 44 percent of pregnant women visiting clinics in urban areas are HIV positive. In several countries in West Africa--such as Burkina Faso and Cameroon--the adult prevalence rate surpassed 5 percent, a level that many experts agree precedes a larger scale epidemic. This devastating disease is erasing decades of development and cutting life expectancy by nearly half in the most affected areas. These statistics are staggering, but they also obscure the human cost of the epidemic. Infected teachers pass away and are unable to transmit knowledge to the next generation. Business owners die and their enterprises die with them. The deaths of trained professionals, such as nurses, civil servants, and lawyers mean that their skills disappear from their country. By 2010, UNAIDS believes that twenty million children in sub-Saharan Africa will have lost at least one of their parents to AIDS. Mr. Speaker, entire societies are being destroyed by this terrible virus. There are a few--very few--signs of hope. Some countries, such as Uganda, have stemmed the rate of infection and have averted a wider catastrophe. Other countries are finally acknowledging that HIV/AIDS poses a serious risk to their stability and are beginning to remove the stigma associated with the disease. Last week, the government of Nigeria announced that it had ordered free HIV/AIDS test for half a million of its citizens. And programs that seek to prevent the transmission of the virus from mothers to children are proving to be effective and are being implemented on a larger scale. But Mr. Speaker, there is more that we as the sole superpower can do to stop the spread of this scourge that threatens the stability of many parts of the globe. We can increase assistance for education and prevention efforts and involve more sectors of societies in such prevention campaigns. We can continue to lower the cost of life-saving anti-retroviral drugs so that people in developing countries have the hope of treatment and are more willing to learn their HIV status. We can support the research and development of an effective, practical vaccine for HIV. And we can increase the United States' contributions for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. What we are doing simply is not enough to stem this global massacre. As a world leader, we must step up our efforts and contributions in this global struggle.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the two amendments, but I also rise in opposition to the bill, H.R. 4635. Although the program has been modified from the original version, I do not believe that it is prudent to deputize pilots as law enforcement officials and to arm them with lethal weapons, even on a pilot program basis. But before I discuss the reasons for my opposition, let me first commend the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Aviation, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for negotiating a much-improved bill. I also thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) for incorporating language in the bill and the report to address some specific concerns I raised. Even though the final compromise is not an acceptable one to me, I appreciate the good faith, and it is a much-improved bill. The central issue in this debate is what is the proper role of an airline pilot in aviation security. The proponents of H.R. 4635 believe that pilots can serve in a dual capacity as navigators and as Federal law enforcement officers. I appreciate the desire and willingness of pilots to assume additional responsibilities. However, I am not convinced that law enforcement is an appropriate role for the airline pilots. In the aviation security area, there are already Federal air marshals specially trained to deal with violent situations in the air. This is a full-time job that requires individuals' individual attention. They must undergo vigorous training, and after initial qualification, they still must spend a great deal of time to maintain their proficiency. H.R. 4635 would essentially establish a Federal flight deck officer program that authorizes volunteer pilots to serve as adjuncts to the Federal air marshal program. The main reason why I oppose this idea is I have grave doubts about whether pilots whose primary duty and experience involves manipulating complex electronic equipment can devote the time and attention necessary to reach a level of proficiency that is equivalent to that of a Federal air marshal. Let me also remind Members that passenger cabins are relatively small, and they are a confined environment where gun battles are very likely to cause damage to bystanders and damage the aircraft instruments. For this reason, Federal air marshals must undergo a training regimen that is far more demanding than the training programs for other law enforcement officials. I would like to point out that the bill provides no role for the employers of the individuals who would become Federal flight deck officers of the airlines. Candidates for the Federal flight deck officer program apply directly to the TSA. Airlines might not even find out whether one of their pilots has applied for the program until after TSA requests a history of their work record and other background information. I know of no other private sector employee-employer relationship where the employees can seek authorization to carry a lethal weapon without the employer's knowledge and consent. After all, if something happens on a plane, it is the airline that is most likely to be sued, and yet they have no role to play in this program. During the question-and-answer period at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, the head of TSA, John Magaw, indicated that the agency is opposed to arming pilots with lethal weapons. TSA are the experts in this area, and they recognize the complexities involved. They know what it takes to train a Federal air marshal. It goes far beyond just training someone in basic gun safety and firing a weapon accurately. Security tasks should be left to dedicated security professionals. We should not be second-guessing the TSA program and their judgment. At best, arming pilots increases security only marginally, while diverting precious time and resources that TSA could spend on more important endeavors. TSA is already having great difficulty reviewing and coordinating plans with airports deploying detection systems. I am particularly concerned that requiring TSA to focus on developing procedures to arm pilots will make it virtually impossible to comply with the December 31 deadline for 100 percent deployment in this area. I just want to remind Members, Mr. Oberstar, that two pilots were arrested for being drunk as they were getting ready to go fly a plane. I would hate for them to have had lethal weapons.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the leadership of this committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). I know how diligent they have been in working on this, and most especially to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for offering the motion to instruct the conferees. Mr. Speaker, whether the policy issue is prescription drug coverage, education, or any other matters within the jurisdiction of the Congress, the most fundamental issue facing all of us is restoring the public's faith in democracy. Congress must make electoral reform a top priority, and we hope to see the conclusion of this bill in conference soon. Constitutionally mandated equal protection of the laws and the Voting Rights Act require an electoral system in which all Americans are able to register as voters, remain on the rolls once registered, and vote free from harassment. Ballots must not be misleading, and every vote must count and be counted. In the 2000 election, Florida was not the only State where American citizens were denied the full exercise of their fundamental rights and their constitutional franchise. It happened across this Nation. Moreover, most of those excluded from democracy were Americans of color. As such, election reform is the number one legislative priority for the Congressional Black Caucus, and I sincerely hope that it is a top priority for every Member of the 107th Congress. We cannot be silenced until Congress answers the call for electoral reform. This is not a black, white or brown issue. It is an American issue. It is a red, white and blue issue. It should be of great concern to each of us that if any one of us is improperly denied access to the ballot box or if every ballot cast is not counted, the survival of our democracy depends on the accuracy and integrity of our election system. It is important that conferees make an effective date for election reform in time for the next Presidential election in 2004. Actually, it should have been in time for our congressional elections; but we will go forward, unfortunately with the same system that caused us as much headache as it did in November 2000. For the second instruction, it is important that the government has the ability as soon as it is feasible to legally check to see if States are, in fact, making the necessary changes that the final election reform bill stimulates. I hope each of my colleagues will do his and her part by voting in favor of this sensible motion to instruct.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3130, the Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education Improvement Act. I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) for working with me and my colleagues in a very bipartisan manner to develop the legislation now before the House. This bill focuses on two important issues. The first is to attract and retain more students in associate and baccalaureate degree programs in critical science and technology fields. The second issue is to ensure that all undergraduate students receive a quality education experience in their science and technology courses, regardless of the career path they ultimately choose. One important component for dealing with the problem of declining numbers of students pursuing careers in science and math and engineering for the long term is to increase participation in these areas by individuals from underrepresented groups. Under the Technology Talent Act, the National Science Foundation is required to ensure that projects are supported that would lead to increases in the numbers of science degrees by individuals from underrepresented groups. The NSF is also encouraged to make use of existing Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program, which has a 10-year track record in attracting and maintaining minority students in science- related degree programs. H.R. 3130 also authorizes a new Minority- Serving Institutions undergraduate program to build up the capacity for these institutions. In other provisions, the bill will help expand undergraduate education reform efforts at institutions of higher education throughout the Nation that have demonstrated successful records of accomplishment. It provides professional development opportunities for undergraduate faculty and expands the availability of research experiences for the undergraduate students, including students at nonresearch institutions. The bill also encourages the inclusion of innovative public-private partnerships by enabling consortia to participate in the grants program which has worked very, very well in the State of Texas and in my area. Mr. Speaker, I believe that H.R. 3130 will put in place a range of programs and activities that will strengthen undergraduate education in science and technology and will help provide the human resources that this Nation will need for economic strength and security in the postindustrial world. I strongly support this legislation. I commend it to my colleagues and ask for their support in the passage by this House.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I express my opposition to this bill because it does hurt senior women, in particular, and is another big windfall for the corporate industry.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate World Refugee Day, which is being celebrated today in the United States and in almost 90 countries around the globe. The theme for this year's World Refugee Day is ``Refugee Women,'' which is very appropriate since almost 80 percent of the refugees worldwide are women and children. World Refugee Day gives us a chance to reflect upon the almost 50 million uprooted people in the world and to think about what the United States is doing to help alleviate their suffering. In fiscal year 2001, the U.S. welcomed 68,426 refugees to its shores and gave those disparate people the chance to seek a new life. While there are some encouraging aspects to our Nation's refugee policy, there is much more to be concerned about. An extreme regional inequity exists in our Nation's refugee admissions process regarding African refugees. On November 21, 2001, President Bush authorized the admission of 70,000 refugees into the United States for fiscal year 2002. Yet, as of May 31, 2002, slightly more than 13,800 refugees have been admitted. Of these admitted by the end of May 8, 933 were from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, whereas only 891 refugees were from Africa. When the Congressional Black Caucus asked the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the State Department in March why so few refugees from Africa had been admitted this fiscal year, they replied that security concerns prevented them from admitting the refugees. Yet if security is a reason for the delay, why is it that almost 1,500 refugees from the Near East and South Asia have been admitted when the region is known to have much more serious security concerns than Africa? Mr. Speaker, I am asking for an equitable refugee admission process. Worldwide, 28 percent of the refugees are from Africa, and I believe that 28 percent of refugees resettled in the U.S. should be African in origin. But to date, less than 7 percent of the refugees admitted this fiscal year to the United States are from Africa. This imbalance really cannot continue. What can we do to correct these regional inequities? We can roll over fiscal year 2002 admission numbers into fiscal year 2003 numbers so that a precious chance to rebuild a life does not expire. We can institute direct flights from refugee camps to a facility in the United States so that the refugees can be processed within the U.S., as was done for Kosovo Albanians during the Balkan war at Fort Dix in New Jersey. We could give preferential treatment to African refugees into very safe settings, as was done for the Montagnards from Vietnam, and we can increase circuit rides so that refugees can be interviewed where they actually live. Mr. Speaker, where there is a will, there is a way. The statistics that I have cited are useful in understanding the severity of the refugee admissions crisis that is taking place, but they also obscure the fact that we are talking about desperate, suffering people. Each fraction of a percentage point represents a family that has been united and given a new lease on life; each number represents someone who has escaped a hopeless refugee camp or a violent urban detention center. Each number represents someone like Rose, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who has resettled in Dallas, Texas, the district that I am proud to represent here in Congress. Rose's husband, an ethnic Tutsi, fled the violence and chaos under the former Zaire to Rwanda to escape persecution. At that time, Rose was expecting her second child. As the war and violence of the Great Lakes Region raged around them, Rose and her children were forced to leave. They found temporary refuge in Benin. In February 2000, Rose and her two children arrived in Dallas. Rose quickly found a job at a photo processing lab that enabled her to support her two children. Although she was self-sufficient, her life was incomplete without her husband. But by working with resettlement agencies, Rose was able to unite her family in March of this year. Mr. Speaker, the story of Rose from my district has a happy ending, and it demonstrates the hope and opportunity that we can offer if we will.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of this rule. It is a breath of fresh air that we are getting this kind of fair and open rule from the Republican majority. But I also rise to support the amendment to be offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member, which seeks to prevent the diversion of funds from the Airport Improvement Program. Like the ranking member, I am not opposed to the underlying provisions of the bill, which seek to expand the eligibility of the AIP program to include future construction of contract towers. I am, however, opposed to allowing airports to be reimbursed for work that has already been completed by airport improvement entitlements that are due for others in the future. As a matter of equity, the 26 airports that would be eligible for reimbursement had no reasonable expectations that Federal funds would cover construction of their contract towers. If we now allow these airports to recover their costs under this AIP program, it sends the message to other airports that any contract fairly entered into with the FAA can be overturned when they get ready, if they can muster the support in Congress. So it is a matter of principle. I also understand that the 26 airports that are eligible to be reimbursed have an estimated $252 million in safety, security and capacity needs. If future airport improvement entitlements are diverted to work on contract towers that have already been completed, these 26 airports could face a major funding shortfall in the future. Essentially what this amendment seeks to do is prevent these 26 airports from double-dipping from their short-sighted attempt to mortgage their future. I ask my colleagues to support the Oberstar amendment and to oppose final passage if the Oberstar amendment is not adopted.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague from Florida, Congressman Alcee Hastings for offering this motion to instruct conferees. The two instructions that Congressman Hastings is offering are crucial to getting our election system in order. First, it is important that conferees make any effective date for election reform be in time for the next Presidential election in 2004. Actually, it should have been in time for our congressional elections, but we will go forward unfortunately with the same system that tore America apart in the November 2000 election. And for the second instruction, it is important that the government have the ability as soon as is it feasible, to legally check to see if States are in fact making the necessary changes that the final election reform bill stimulates. Election Reform is the number one legislative priority for the Congressional Black Caucus, and I sincerely hope that it is a top priority for every Member of the 107th Congress. As a national legislative body, the Congress has the power, authority and absolute obligation to assure that the apparent disenfranchisement, which occurred in several places throughout the United States in our last Presidential election, does not ever happen again. Allegations of voter intimidation; inaccurate voter registration lists; subjective, vague or non-existent ballot counting standards; and flawed ballot designs, all led to confusion before, during and after the election. What happened is no way to elect the President of the United States of America--the most powerful position in the world. This is not a black, white, or brown issue. It is an American issue. It is a red, white and blue issue. It should be of great concern to each of us if any one of us is improperly denied access to the ballot box or if every ballot cast is not counted. The survival of our democracy depends on the accuracy and integrity of our election system. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this sensible motion to instruct.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 415. As we commemorate National Home Ownership Month throughout the month of June, it is the perfect time to remember that nothing sustains the American dream like owning a home. Home ownership is an essential tool for strengthening our communities and allowing more Americans to accumulate wealth. Homes are where our Nation's families grow, where lives are shaped and where decisions are made. It is essential that we work to increase the ranks of homeowners in every community across this country, and in particular among members of the African-American community, whose home ownership rates have traditionally lagged far behind other groups. According to the 2000 census, African-Americans recorded a $27,910 median household income--the highest ever recorded--while recording record-low poverty rates. In 2001, it was estimated that the total income for African-Americans exceeded $565 billion, and more than half of African-American married couples had incomes of at least $50,000. Yet, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, only 48 percent of African-Americans own homes, compared to 74 percent of white families. And, in a recent study, 36 percent of African-Americans believed that access to capital was their greatest barrier to owning a home. These statistics show that many families of color are unable to capitalize on the benefits that home ownership provides. For far too long minority communities have been left out of the home ownership process. Though the number of African-American homeowners has increased by more than 20 percent in the last decade, too many people of color are missing out on the power of home ownership because they've fallen prey to decades of unfair lending practices, lack of savings or lack of affordable housing. As we all know, without proprietorship we have no power. This is whey we must take responsibility to ensure that our families can prosper through the benefits of owning a home. That is why the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation created the ``With Ownership, Wealth'' initiative to promote access to lending and home ownership education and resources for people of color. This initiative is one way that the CBCF is letting people know the importance of home ownership and connecting those people with the funding sources that can make that dream a reality. Since its inception, the Congressional Black Caucus has championed equality for all, and the WOW initiative is merely an extension of our fight to ensure that all Americans will have the opportunity to experience the prosperity that is felt by too few. Combined with the CBC's agenda to increase the Nation's home ownership rates, this program will serve to develop the all-inclusive America of which we have only dreamt for far too long. I applaud the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, under first the extraordinary leadership of Congresswoman Eva Clayton and now the groundbreaking leadership of Congressman Jefferson, for helping us forge ahead with this incredibly important initiative which will help all Americans realize the American dream. We still have much work to do to educate consumers about the value-- and the responsibility--of owning a home, but I am pleased that more resources are available than ever before to assist potential homebuyers in making this first step toward acquiring wealth. When we give people the right tools to purchase a home, we put them on a road to financial success. America is only as strong as it communities, and communities are only as strong as the families that live within. Home ownership is part of the foundation of a stable family. It provides a base for marriages to grow, a safe environment for children to learn, and the center through which families bond. Just as importantly, home ownership is the first step to wealth acquisition, and a primary mechanism for building a family asset base.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, whereas on March 9, 2002, the Lincoln High School Tigers boys varsity basketball team in Dallas, Texas completed its 2001-2002 season undefeated, with 40 wins, 0 losses; Whereas the Lincoln High School Tigers won the 2002 Texas State Championship; Whereas the Lincoln High School Tigers were ranked number one by USA Today national high school ranking poll; Whereas the coach of the Lincoln High School Tigers, Mr. Leonard Bishop, has also been awarded the national Coach Awards by USA Today and the Black Coaches Association, as well as the Dallas All Sports Awards area Coach of the Year; Whereas the Lincoln High School Lady Tigers girls' team won the, District 12-4A Championship in Dallas, Texas, having completed the 2001-2002 season undefeated with 12 wins, 0 losses; Whereas the Lincoln High School Lady Tigers continued to win their regional championship and were also state finalists; Whereas the Lincoln High School Football team won their district championship, finishing the season undefeated with 6 wins, 0 losses; and Whereas the Lincoln High School National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Club won the 2001 Dallas Boosting Engineers, Science & Technology (BEST) award, including the Most Elegant Robot award; Be It Proclaimed, That I-- (1) congratulate--The Lincoln High School Tigers boys varsity basketball team for winning the 2002 Texas State Championship; The Lincoln High School Lady Tigers girls basketball team for winning their 2002 district and regional championships; The Lincoln High School Football team for winning the 2001 district championship; and The Lincoln High School NSBE Jr. Club for winning the BEST award; (2) commend the Lincoln High School Tigers boys varsity basketball team, the Lady Tigers girls basketball team, the football team and the NSBE Jr. Club for their outstanding performance during the entire 2001- 2002 season and for their commitment to high standards of character, perseverance, and teamwork; and (3) recognize the achievements of the players, coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping the athletic teams and clubs win their respective championships and awards.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the devastating impact that privatizing Social Security would have on women, most especially African American women. Social Security is particularly important to women, especially in my home State of Texas. Without these vital retirement benefits, 564,000 women in the Lone Star State would be classified as poor according to a report released by the Senate for budget policy and priorities. Currently, Social Security benefits are progressive, that is, those with low wages receive a larger percentage of benefits relative to their earnings than higher-income individuals do. This system of progressivity, combined with a cost-of-living adjustment that increases benefits every year, strengthens the safety net for those who are the most economically disadvantaged. Privatization flows from concerns that many people have about the future of Social Security. Some of those concerns are founded and some may not be. We are all well aware that as the post-war baby boom generation ages, the numbers of retirees relative to the number of workers will increase. These are facts that cannot be changed. However, modest changes implemented immediately can give people time to plan for the future and would take us a long way toward resolving the issue. Privatizing Social Security is the most radical change, and it assumes that there is magic in diverting some portion of the current Social Security payroll taxes into the private markets. I hope that people who have money in the private markets understand what happened in the last year or so. Most privatization plans propose to strip a few percentage points off the Social Security payroll taxes and divert them to the private individual investment accounts. Most people happily focus on the vision of a few dollars a month growing into millions of dollars over time. Just ask me and a few others who have put small amounts of money on the market, that is lost. Unfortunately, this is a dream and not a reality as we have witnessed in the common stock market. There are three very important things that should be considered when privatizing Social Security benefits: first, the huge cuts in benefits which would be required under the privatization plans, most as large as a 60 percent cut in Social Security benefits. For people with large savings from other sources, that may not seem like much; but for most Americans, it would be a drastic reduction in the protections they have come to rely on. That means many of the women of which I speak depend solely on Social Security as their retirement pension income. Next, privatization would be a major change in who bears the risk of saving for retirement. Privatization would shift nearly all of the risk to the individual. People who are unwise or unlucky in their investments would suffer. We saw many examples of this in the recent stock market failures. Finally, privatization would increase the Federal deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Taking a mere 2 percent of payroll taxes away from the trust fund would double or triple the size of the deficit. This effect is what some people trivialize as transition costs. I do not believe it is trivial, and given the other concerns which privatization raises, I think we should look long and hard before we lapse and leap into the wrong direction. How do African American women fair in privatization proposals floating around in the country? Not good at all. Although black women typically live longer lives, their lifetime earnings are usually much lower than their white counterparts. Under privatization, this lower level would mean black women would be forced to live longer on a smaller amount of money, and they cannot get by with what it is now. They have to make a choice between food or medicine. Hugh Price, president of the National Urban League, and Julian Bond, chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, wrote an editorial in the New York Times on July 26, 2001, addressing African American women and Social Security. They found that guaranteed government assistance is essential to the African American community. While African Americans make up only 12 percent of the general population, they make up 17 percent of all Americans receiving Social Security benefits and 22 percent of all children's survivor benefits. At this point I will insert my entire statement into the Record.