Eddie Johnson

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here this afternoon, and I want to especially thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald) for her work in bringing us together here to recognize the contributions of people of Indian origin to the United States and the benefits of working together with India. Mr. Speaker, there are vital Indian-American communities in Texas. In fact, Texas's Indian-American community is one of the leading ethnic groups in my home State, and its members have made important contributions to the local economy and culture. As the largest immigrant group other than Mexicans, Indians account for 4.3 percent of North Texas's foreign-born population. Indian immigrants in this area come from all over the subcontinent, but especially the western Gujarat province. Many of Texas' Indian-Americans are professionals who play key roles in sectors like the technology industry and the field of medicine. Many others are business owners. About 1 million Indian-Americans live in the United States. Many Americans assume that Indian-Americans, because they are often well- educated, do not face the same problems as other minorities. They are wrong. In many parts of this country Indian-Americans are victims of hate crimes and racial harassment. They are victims of discrimination in business and in education. We in Congress cannot allow people who come to this country seeking out the American Dream to be victimized or subjected to bigotry. Indian-Americans are proud of the tremendous strides their homeland has made. By the year 2050 India will be the most populous democratic country in the world. India and the United States today represent the greatest democracies on the face of the earth: the oldest and the largest. The United States is also one of India's largest trading partners. India's economy has been advancing rapidly, with a large stock market and strong high-tech enterprises like aircraft, a computer industry, and its own space program. We must promote greater understanding between the United States and India, particularly in the economic, political and cultural areas. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Indian-American community. I know my colleagues join us in recognizing the profound contributions Indian- Americans have made to American society and their descendants throughout the world.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, American soldiers are serving with honor, and we stand behind them. We are grateful for their patriotism, courage and sacrifice, and we continue to support them as they finish their dangerous mission. The disgraceful acts in the Iraqi prisons have endangered our troops and made their mission more difficult to accomplish. They have endangered our chance to succeed in Iraq, and they have endangered our national security. Reports of mistreatment have been available for a year and a half at least, yet the Bush administration failed to take them seriously. These abuses occurred because soldiers were put into situations they were not trained for and for which they did not have proper supervision. This is a failure from the very top, and it is time for the President and Secretary Rumsfeld to stop shifting the blame and take responsibility. Congress must conduct a full and open investigation.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate two great journalists, David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer of the Dallas Morning News, who were recently awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography. We Texans saw blood spill, tears shed, and conflict unfold in the trenches of Iraq through their camera lens. Mr. Leeson, who was with the U.S. Army's Third Infantry Division for 6 weeks, captured an image of an Iraqi rolling out of a vehicle engulfed in flames, only to be shot by an American soldier; Ms. Meyer photographed a gripping scene of American troops risking their lives to save a wounded civilian. The Pulitzer is Leeson's first. He had been a Pulitzer finalist three other times. The Iraq war is the 11th major conflict Leeson has covered. He has also produced work on the apartheid in South Africa, a portion of the gulf war and flooding in southeast Texas. It was the first Pulitzer for Ms. Meyer also, a news photographer since 2000. In late 2001, she traveled to Afghanistan to photograph the war on terrorism and its effects to topple the oppressive Taliban regime. She has received numerous awards for her body of work there including the John Faber Award from the Overseas Press Club. In April 2002, Ms. Meyer traveled to the Philippines and Indonesia where she photographed Muslim and Christian extremism and the violence caused by religious hatred. Mr. Speaker, I also congratulate the Dallas Morning News' entire staff for their seventh Pulitzer. Mr. Leeson and Ms. Meyer, I commend you for this great accomplishment. Keep capturing those shots because they are worth thousand words.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, to appropriately honor the Right Reverend John Hurst Adams and his beloved wife, Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams, upon his retirement as the Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's Eleventh Episcopal District which comprises the state of Florida and the Bahamas. I'd like to submit for the Record the following letter to the St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church. Again, the people of Dallas join me in saluting Bishop John Hurst and Dr. Dolly Adams, and wishing them Godspeed. The Bishop John Hurst Adams Celebration Committee, Attention: The Reverend Doctor Samuel L. Green, Sr., St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church, Orlando, Florida. Dear Celebration Committee: I congratulate the Right Reverend John Hurst Adams, and his beloved wife, Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams, upon his retirement as the Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's Eleventh Episcopal District comprising the state of Florida and the Bahamas. As a minister of the AME Church, as a preacher of the Gospel, and as an educator, Bishop Adams has served both the community of God and the community of man. Credited with initiating 70 congregations, Bishop Adams is a modern-day apostle. Because the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, Bishop Adams has played an instrumental role in transforming the souls and the minds of untold thousands. From 1972 until 1980, the Right Reverend Adams served as the Presiding Bishop of the Tenth Episcopal District, which comprises the entire state of Texas. In this capacity, he devoted all of his energies to ministering to the spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional needs of parishioners, converts, churchgoers, the un-churched, the lost, and those on the edge of the church. The citizens of Dallas are forever indebted to Bishop Adams and Dr. Adams for their leadership of Paul Quinn College and their stewardship of the venerable institution of higher education located in Dallas. As its President from 1956-1962, the Right Reverend John Hurst Adams put his distinctive touch on the college. During his helmsmanship as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Paul Quinn College, he raised it to the highest Heights of excellence. The college, which was founded in 1872 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was doubly blessed by the presence of the Adamses on its campus. As the Dean of Students at Paul Quinn College, Dr. Dolly Adams not only changed the lives of students, she also changed the lives of all around her. This veteran educator served in the Woman's Missionary Society for nearly three decades. Dr. Adams supervised the Tenth Episcopal District of Texas. She also served as the National President of Links, Inc. and was accordingly named one of the ``100 Most Influential Black Americans'' by Ebony magazine. It is an understatement to say that Bishop Adams and Dr. Adams will be greatly missed. Our lives are richer and our hopes are brighter because of their contributions. This godly couple has served as a source of inspiration for others. Each of them has given their ``utmost for His Highest.'' The couple can truly say as the Apostle Paul famously said, ``I have fought a good fight, 1 have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.'' Although they are retiring from active ministry, they will not recede from our memories. I will enter an official statement into the Congressional Record highlighting his lifelong accomplishments of Bishop John Hurst Adams and honoring his retirement. Once it is printed, I will be happy to forward you a copy to your attention. Again, the people of Dallas join me in saluting Bishop John Hurst and Dr. Dolly Adams, and wishing them Godspeed. Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate two great journalists, David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer of Dallas Morning News, who were recently awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography. We Texans saw blood spill, tears shed and conflict unfold in the trenches of Iraq through their camera lens. Mr. Leeson, who was with the U.S. Army's Third Infantry Division for six weeks, captured an image of an Iraqi rolling out of a vehicle engulfed in flames, only to be shot by an American soldier; Ms. Meyer photographed a gripping scene of American troops risking their lives to save a wounded civilian. The Pulitzer is Leeson's first. He had been a Pulitzer finalist three other times. The Iraq war is the 11th major conflict Leeson has covered. He has also produced work on the apartheid in South Africa, a portion of the Gulf War and flooding in Southeast Texas. It was the first Pulitzer for Ms. Meyer also, a News photographer since 2000. In late 2001, she traveled to Afghanistan to photograph the war on terrorism and its effects to topple the oppressive Taliban regime. She has received numerous awards for her body of work there including the John Faber Award from the Overseas Press Club. In April 2002, Ms. Meyer traveled to the Philippines and Indonesia where she photographed Muslim and Christian extremism and the violence caused by religious hatred. Mr. Speaker, I also congratulate the Dallas Morning News' entire staff for their seventh Pulitzer. Mr. Leeson and Ms. Meyer, I commend you for this great accomplishment. Keep capturing those shots because they are worth a thousand words.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 34th annual celebration of Earth Day. I have a long-standing commitment to conservation and environmental protection, as well as to peace and justice; and I am pleased to join in today's celebration. Earth Day festivities take place all across the country. I would like to pay special tribute to my constituents in Dallas, Texas, who are so active in their support of environmental issues. I would like to give special recognition to TXU under the leadership of Mr. Earl Ney, who has shown a great deal of sensitivity in correcting many of the environmental damaging fumes from their electrical power plans, and to Mr. Stavely of Irving, Texas, who led the dry cleaning industry into taking a responsible position of establishing a State fund to share in cleaning up industrial waste. The city of Dallas will recognize Earth Day on Friday with a celebration of live entertainment and educational exhibits. I would like also to pay tribute to Bonnie Bowman, a north Texan, who has championed a host of environmental causes from clean air and water to recycling and tree preservation. Those efforts have garnered her special recognition this Earth Day in the form of an environmental awareness award from the League of Women Voters, and Trammel Crow who back over the years planted many trees back along the highways. In 1963 following President Kennedy's death, the Nation was reminded of his words he had spoken the year before: ``Never have the nations of the world had so much to lose, or so much to gain. Together we can save our planet, or together perish in its flames. Save it we can, and save it we must.'' We must ensure that diversity of life on Earth and enrich the quality of life now and for future generations. Today, however, many of the environmental gains of the past 34 years are under attack or have been rolled back. The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have been weakened. EPA enforcement funds have been cut. The ``polluter pays'' principle for cleaning up toxic waste sites has been abandoned. Mining and logging on public lands have increased, protection from wilderness areas has been removed, and attempts are being made to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling and weaken protections for the California coast. Mr. Speaker, Texas is already the Nation's mercury hot spot, and our children should not be suffering from the toxic exposure. Texas leads the Nation in mercury pollution from coal plants. Nineteen coal-burning plants spew out nearly 9,000 pounds of toxic mercury per year in Texas. Coal waste contains mercury that can leach into the waterways as well. Utilities, the largest source of mercury, 34 percent, are the only industry unregulated for this dangerous pollutant. I consider environmental protection to be a national priority. I pledge to work with my colleagues to ensure the preservation of our natural resources and the protection of the public's health. Today, as we celebrate Earth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to a cleaner and more peaceful world.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to replace the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn), the next speaker.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, John Kerry did serve his country honorably in Vietnam and stood up with many Americans to question a war that had lost purpose and was losing many American lives. John Kerry's speech played an important role in moving the debate from the streets to the floor of the Senate. The Nixon administration was not responding to the changes in the war in Vietnam and was deceiving the American people about the war. Kerry's testimony saved lives. Kerry and other veterans who marched in D.C. in 1971 exercised the same patriotism that drove them to serve their country in the battle in Vietnam. They had fought for liberty and freedom of expression for the Vietnamese, and they returned to the United States to stand up and be heard. His actions should be praised, not scorned.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), the ranking member.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this legislation, I speak in support of its favorable consideration by the House today. The Subcommittee on Research has a long history of support for efforts to improve K-through-12 math and science education. This bill will help to mobilize greater efforts by the private sector in helping our schools to achieve the goal of higher achievement in math and science by all students. I would like to commend the Subcommittee on Research and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) for originating the concept for this bill and working with me in a collegial way in developing the final product. In particular, I appreciate the gentleman's willingness to include language I propose to encourage math and science education in under-represented groups. My language simply emphasizes the importance of recognizing private sector activities that increase the participation and improve the achievements of women and minorities in math and science. This provision is consistent with this committee's long interest in attracting the interest of, and preparing, all segments of the population in math and science. This is necessary if the Nation is to satisfy its demands for the science and technology workforce of the future, because the proportion of minorities in the college-aged population is growing. And it helps to ensure that all citizens will achieve a level of technological literacy needed to function in the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, I wish to use this opportunity to thank the chair of the Committee on Science, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for moving this bill expeditiously to the floor. I am pleased to recommend the bill to my colleagues and seek their favorable support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. General Leave

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me express my appreciation for the leadership of this committee. We operate in a spirit of civility at all times, and we are all very proud of that. We as legislators preach about how we want to make this world a better place for those who are to follow. The Green Chemistry Research and Development Act is a first step to increasing the use of renewable fuels, encouraging manufacturing processes that generate less toxic waste and promote the development of materials which can be easily recycled. I am pleased that my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), has introduced the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. Green chemistry is the utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and application of chemical products. Over the past decade, there has been increasing interest in a fundamental new approach to environmental protection. In studying green chemistry, we realize that science and technology can help produce processes and products that are both more environmentally benign and economically attractive. I would like also to take this opportunity to thank the Chair for working in a bipartisan manner and our ranking member, as we often do in the Committee on Science, for incorporating parts of amendments that I introduced during markup in the committee. Most importantly, I appreciate the language that requires a study by the National Academy of Sciences on barriers to commercialization of green chemistry. As was evident by the committee's hearing on H.R. 3970, success at commercialization can be problematic, even for technical innovations that seem to be obvious candidates for exploitation. The purpose of the study would be to systematically assess successful and unsuccessful attempts at commercialization of green chemistry innovations here and abroad and attempt to tease out the controlling factors. In addition, I am pleased that the manager's amendment clarifies that the funds provided by the bill for focused green chemistry research is in addition to the amounts the agency currently spends in its base programs. This addition is also very important, and I would like to thank the Chair for including this in the manager's amendment. Although there is more work that can be done to strengthen this legislation, it provides the right impetus to encourage the science and manufacturing communities to start in the right direction, not only because green chemistry can save them money now in the short term but because it can also save our planet in the long term.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I know that this is an amendment that the State of Texas would like to have. I am happy to support my friend from Texas. In fact, I offered the same amendment in committee. The amendment would change the calculation of toll credits by basing them on the proportion of non-Federal investment in toll projects. Support of this amendment does not mean that we promote or support toll roads per se, but supporting this amendment does recognize that State legislators that have chosen to pursue tolling should be able to have access to toll credits to invest in transportation options such as transit, bicycle, rail, and pedestrian infrastructure as well as road maintenance. Toll credits create flexibility in the Federal-aid programs. Similar to the Programmatic Match provisions of the Surface Transportation Program, toll credits allow the expenditure of non-Federal funds on one project to serve as the match on another project. The benefit of having toll credits is to enable either a highway or a transit project to exchange a toll credit for non-Federal share of a project's cost. Mr. Chairman, I include my statement for the Record. Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to support my friend from Texas' amendment. In fact I offered this same amendment in Committee. The amendment would change the calculation of toll credits by basing them on the proportion of non-federal investment in toll projects. Support of this amendment does not mean that you promote or support toll roads per se. But supporting this amendment does recognize that State Legislatures that have chosen to pursue tolling should be able to have access to toll credits to invest in transportation options, such as transit, bicycles, rail, and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as road maintenance. Toll credits create flexibility in the federal aid program. Similar to the Programmatic Match provisions of the Surface Transportation Program, toll credits allow the expenditure of non-federal funds on one project to serve as the match on another project. The benefit of having toll credits is to enable either a highway or transit project to exchange a toll credit for non-federal share of a project's cost. This amendment does not provide any additional money. It simply provides greater financial flexibility by allowing the use of federal funds in a state's apportionment. Without this flexibility, State DOT's will have a significantly diminished number of toll credits and will likely only focus on the growing demands for road maintenance. My fellow members, if your state does tolling, you will benefit from this amendment. In my state, I have broad support from the Texas Department of Transportation, MPOs, local and state officials, and transit organizations. Mr. Chairman, I urge you to support this amendment so that we can give States that have decided to toll more flexibility with toll credits so that they can invest in all transportation options.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Alaska.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would dramatically improve an existing law provision, section 104(j), that was enacted as part of TEA 21. Currently, the U.S. Department of Transportation produces an annual report to Congress on the use of Federal transportation funds by program, by type of investment, and by location within the States. My amendment would simply require that this information be provided to the public as well as via the Internet. This is a nonpartisan amendment. It is broadly supported by a wide array of program partners, county officials, cities, mayors, metropolitan planning organizations, planners, architects and others. Consider the current state of practice. Today, if you search the U.S. DOT's Web site for a section 104(j) report, you get ``no documents match.'' Now, the first question that will be asked is: Will this impose a burden on my State? No, absolutely not. This amendment would not impose any additional burden on the States.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their cooperation. Mr. Chairman, I might add that this is not a heavy burden on the FHWA or U.S. DOT bureaucracy. This information is already collected, processed, and provided for the use of State Departments of Transportation, in a use-friendly format for those users. This amendment simply requires that the same information already being processed be provided to the taxpayers and their representatives. Why ``user-friendly''? Lack of ease of Congressional oversight on this report led to a $5 billion discrepancy between Table 1 and Table 4(e) in this report in fiscal year 2000. Because it is not electronically available as a manipulatable table, any summation that is not presented in the table must be done by hand, which is very difficult. So, Federal Highway and the public would have a better product as a result of this amendment and the improved access to this information would improve the accuracy of the reporting. It is my belief that better reporting will lend much greater confidence to us as lawmakers as we fight to increase future spending through FHWA. Federal funds for public transportation have long operated under much more stringent reporting measures. My amendment is a simple change that would provide our constituents with some information about how their transportation taxes are being invested. They deserve to know if their tax dollars are being invested back into their community, or if the State is spending them elsewhere, and better understand how and where these resources are being invested on their behalf. After all, we are talking about how more than $200 billion in the taxpayers' money will be spent over the next 6 years. By adopting my amendment, this Congress can provide some very basic transparency and accountability with Americans' tax dollars in the Federal surface transportation program. The time has come for FHWA to deliver us and the public a report that is more than a small stack of computer runs that can only be understood by a handful of financial experts at Federal Highway and U.S. DOT. Let me close by simply urging my colleagues to accept this modest improvement to current law. It is one of the small things we can do to provide for more transparency and accountability to this process. Taxpayers pay for this bill, and they deserve to understand more about how their tax dollars are spent on transportation infrastructure. Mr. Chairman, I ask for all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this simple amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for the efforts which they have put forth in working on this bill. I would like to talk to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for just a moment about the continuing challenges before us in getting our State transportation departments to fully obligate funds under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program known as CMAQ. In my State of Texas, more than $230 million in unobligated CMAQ balances have piled up, even though areas like my own district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are challenged in their efforts to address the harmful health effects of mobile sources and other emissions upon my constituents. Other regions in my State and many other parts of the country are challenged as well. This bill, like the two before it in 1991 and 1998, provides targeted resources to the States to help fund the mandate of clean air in many metropolitan and local areas across the country, areas that account for about one of every two people in this Nation. We allocate clean air funds, CMAQ spending authority, to States based on local air quality needs. Yet, there is no requirement that States spend a fair share of the funds we provide air quality improvement projects. All of us have heard the pleas from our State officials, governors and legislators alike, about unfunded mandates and how they challenge our States. Yet, in this case, States do not want us to include any assurances to local areas that they can count on a steady and predictable flow of CMAQ dollars to help them meet mandates under the Clean Air Act. Today, this Congress is again providing the resources for this purpose but not requiring States to pass these funds to the local areas. In this Chamber, our States and many other interests have also told us that the certainty of a 6-year bill is crucial to the States as they plan for transportation investments. My simple request is that we provide more certainty to local areas over the next 6 years as well. After all, the CMAQ funds we are providing under this legislation are for local areas to assist their compliance efforts in meeting federally-established, health-based standards for clean air. Finally, there is added urgency to this matter. As early as next month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be making its final designations under the new 8-hour ozone standards. A predictable and timely flow of CMAQ dollars will be crucial to their success in achieving compliance with these standards. It is my hope that my colleague and other House leaders in the conference committee will strive to deliver more certainty to local areas about CMAQ funding over the life of this renewal legislation. I would like some assurances that we will continue to work to provide local areas with more certainty about their CMAQ funding over the next 6 years in this legislation.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his consideration of these issues, and I pledge my strong support to his efforts and any other member of the committee's efforts to make progress in this area.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in honor of Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was born on this day in 1927. Cesar Chavez once said, ``Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?'' He believed that ``the end of all education should surely be service to others.'' It is a belief that he practiced until his untimely death. In Dallas, Texas where I serve, to honor his love for education, the city opened the Cesar Chavez Learning Center. The Center enrolls almost 900 students and maintains an attendance rate of 96.6 percent. Mr. Chavez could have written his own book on humanity and service to others. He was willing to sacrifice his own life so that others could have a better life. He built a great union through persistence, hard work, faith, and non-violence. Blending the nonviolent resistance of Gandhi with the organizational skills of his mentor, the social activist Saul Alinsky, Mr. Chavez captured worldwide attention in the 1960's. Leading an initially lonely battle to unionize the fields and the orchards of California, he issued a call to boycott grapes. It soon became the cause to celebrate. Mr. Chavez, who was described by Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 as ``one of the heroic figures of our time,'' was widely acknowledged to have done more to improve the lot of the migrant farm worker than anyone else. Asked what had motivated his stubborn fight, he said, ``For many years I was a farm worker, a migratory worker, and, well, personally-- and I'm being very frank--maybe it's just a matter of trying to even the score.'' But he ultimately failed to realize his dream of forging a nationwide organization. In most of America, farm workers continue to toil for low wages, without job security. They are still vulnerable to exploitation. Along with thousands of other families during the depression in the Southwest, Cesar Chavez's family fell on hard times. They sought a new life in California. They found it picking carrots, cotton and other crops in arid valleys, following the sun in search of the next harvest and the next migrants' camp. Mr. Chavez never graduated from high school, and once counted 65 elementary schools he had attended ``for a day, a week or a few months.'' Beginning with the Industrial Workers of the World at the turn of the century, unions tried for decades to organize immigrant unskilled workers, first Chinese, then Japanese and later Filipinos and Mexican- Americans, on whom California growers depended. But the field hands, their organizing drives vulnerable to the competition of other poor migrants seeking work, found themselves fighting not only powerful growers, but also the police and government officials. By 1965 Mr. Chavez had organized 1,700 families and persuaded two growers to raise wages moderately. His fledging union was too weak for a major strike. But 800 workers in a virtually moribund AFL-CIO group, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, struck grape growers in Delano. Some of the members of his group demanded to join the strike. That was the beginning of 5 years of La Huelga--``the strike''--in which the frail labor leader, who was 5 feet 6 inches tall, became familiar to people in much of the world as he battled the economic power of the farmers and corporations in the San Joaquin Valley. A New York Times article stated, ``He was shy and not an outstanding public speaker. But he showed humility that, with his shyness and small stature, piercing dark eyes and facial features that hinted at Indian ancestors, gave him an image as a David taking on the Goliaths of agriculture. Mr. Chavez's style was monastic, almost religious. He said his life was dedicated only to bettering the lives of the exploited farm workers. He was a vegetarian, and his weekly salary of $5 was a virtual vow of poverty. Articles about him often spoke of his ``saintly'' and even ``messianic'' qualities. By 1968, Mr. Chavez had urged Americans not to buy table grapes produced in the San Joaquin Valley until growers agreed to union contracts. The boycott proved a huge success. A public opinion poll found that 17 million Americans had stopped buying grapes because of the boycott. On April 29, 1993, Cesar Chavez was honored in death by those he led in life. He left this world better than he found it and for that we honor him today.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Mr. Cummings, for his steadfast support of the development of this budget alternate. I also want to thank Ms. Majette and Mr. Scott for their leadership. I appreciate and applaud their steady stream of ideas and positions on issues we all care about. I also would like to thank all of the members of the CBC and their staff for their help in completing this very worthwhile project. The Republican budget proposal clearly ignores the needs of Texas and of all working Americans. The Republican budget borrows from future generations to pay for today's tax cuts and federal spending. It reduces taxes on the wealthiest Americans and slams the door on economic opportunity for working families. Neither of these outcomes is in our nation's best interest. Madam Speaker, President Bush inherited a federal surplus of $127 billion in 2001. His tax cuts give us a deficit of $521 billion, an all-time record, in 2004. Recently, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office forecast that rather than cutting the deficit in half over the next five years, as the President pledged, his budget policies will result in increasing it by $2.75 trillion. That's an astounding and mind-boggling amount to add to the national debt over the coming decade. The CBC budget fights for social justice. It advocates for the poor that are left out and forgotten, and more specifically African Americans and other neglected minorities. The budget of the Congressional Black Caucus fully funds No Child Left Behind, it provides funds for school construction, and it increases funding for other education and job training programs. The CBC alternative also provides funding for the minority health initiative, health insurance for the uninsured, it supports child nutrition programs, it funds job creation programs under the SBA, and it extends unemployment insurance benefits. The alternative budget also eliminates the disabled veteran's tax. The funding for these important domestic needs comes from two sources: (1) a reduction in the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 for an individual's adjusted gross income that exceeds $200,000, and (2) the closing of tax loopholes, abusive tax shelters, and methods of tax avoidance. These funds total an estimated $35.5 billion in FY05, and are used for the domestic and deficit reduction portions of the alternative budget. I ask, Madam Speaker, that Members of this body give serious consideration to both the debate and to the challenge.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the Republican budget because it cuts funding for the Violence Against Women Programs. This funding supports most of the programs created by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The programs impact the lives of women and children by bolstering prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, increasing services for victims by funding shelters and increasing resources for law enforcement personnel. The President's budget proposes to reduce these programs to $362 million, a cut of $22 million. Since the Violence Against Women Act was implemented, there has been a 25 percent decrease in violence against women. This 25 percent decrease demonstrates the effectiveness of the policing and prosecutions that these programs fund. Without full funding, thousands of women and children will not be able to access the services they need to escape from domestic violence. We need full funding for these programs to support this vulnerable section of our population. Violence against women is a global epidemic. It is not a woman's issue and it is not a ``private'' issue. We need to restore the $22 million to the Violence Against Women Programs to show the women, children and families across the country that we are committed to creating a safer and more peaceful world for them.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise against the Republican budget because it cuts most programs for women, most especially for Violence Against Women programs. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks about the Republican budget because it cuts funding for the Violence Against Women Programs. The funding for violence against women supports most of the programs created by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The programs impact the lives of women and children by bolstering prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, increasing services for victims by funding shelters and increasing resources for law enforcement personnel. The President's budget proposes to cut funding for these programs to $362 million, a reduction of $22 million. Since the Violence Against Women Act was implemented, there has been a 25 percent decrease in violence against women. This 25 percent decrease demonstrates, the effectiveness of the policing and prosecutions that these programs fund. Violence against women is a global epidemic. It is not a woman's issue and it is not a ``private'' issue. We need to restore the $22 million to the Violence Against Women Programs to show the women, children and families across the country that we are committed to creating a safer and more peaceful world for them.