Jesse Jackson

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, our expectation was that the new Republican majority would read the Constitution as written and its subsequent amendments. There is a broad body of law and interpretation that has developed from 1787 until the adoption of the last Amendment in 1992 that has turned our Constitution into a living document, paid for by the blood, sweat and tears of millions of Americans from the Revolutionary War, through the Civil War to even our current conflicts. The new Republican majority and their redacted Constitutional reading gives little deference to the long history of improving the Constitution and only seeks an interpretation of our Constitution based on the now, not the historic, broad body of law and struggle that it has taken to get there. It leaves out the need to continue to refine the Constitution so that we have a more perfect union. The 10th Amendment remains the center of conservative ideology. It reads, ``The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.'' The 112th Congress' Republican majority is building its agenda around the 10th Amendment. It is determined to limit the scope of Congress' activity to legislation ``reserved'' to the United States. Then, all other rights are in the purview of the states. Under this historic logic, slavery was a state right protected by the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. But slavery by definition is not a human right, and therefore states rights cannot be human rights. That is why for the last five Congresses, I've introduced a series of Constitutional amendments that would improve the document for all Americans by guaranteeing essential rights. Currently, the right to vote is a state right--subject to local interpretations of who should vote and how. That results in thousands of different systems, all with different rules and different regulations. It means education is a state right, which means a child's likelihood of success is based on where he or she is born and the quality of schools that happen to be there. It means health care is a right, and God help you if your state, county or city cannot provide access to high quality care. I will soon reintroduce the following amendments, in the hopes of creating a more perfect union: H.J. Res. 28--Guaranteeing the right to vote to all Americans H.J. Res. 29--Guaranteeing the right to an education of equal high quality H.J. Res. 30--Guaranteeing the right to health care of equal high quality H.J. Res. 31--Guaranteeing the right to equality and to reproductive rights to women H.J. Res. 32--Guaranteeing the right to high quality housing H.J. Res. 33--Guaranteeing the right to a clean and safe environment H.J. Res. 34--Guaranteeing progressive taxation H.J. Res. 35--Guaranteeing the right to full employment and balanced growth H.J. Res. 36--Abolishing the electoral college, and providing direct election of the President and Vice President I hope my Republican and Democratic colleagues will join me in converting a reverence for the Constitution into a movement to improve it on behalf of all Americans.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, if I may ask unanimous consent to address Mr. Goodlatte.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. I thank the gentleman for his kindness. Let me first begin by saying that I think every Member of this body is approaching the reading of their Constitution with the most sacred possible spirit in what is clearly an unprecedented moment in the history of the Congress of the United States. And I don't take it lightly when my colleague or when others, before we begin the reading of our sacred document, are raising questions about what we would be specifically reading, what specifically will be redacted based upon amendments or based upon the recommendations of Libraries of Congress. But I also want to be very clear, Mr. Speaker and Mr. Goodlatte, I recognize that this is a request, that in reading those redacted--and this is very emotional for me. This is very emotional, I know, for a number of Members, given the struggle--and I am not trying to give a shot at the process. Mr. Goodlatte knows me and he knows the spirit in which I'm approaching this--given the struggle of African Americans, given the struggle of women, given the struggles of others to create a more perfect document, while not perfect, a more perfect document, to hear that those elements of the Constitution that have been redacted by amendment are no less serious, no less part of our ongoing struggle to improve the country and to make the country better, and our sense in our struggle and whom we are at the Congress of the United States at this point in American history and our desire to continue to improve the Constitution, many of us don't want that to be lost upon the reading of our sacred document. So with that said, I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I just wanted to indicate that this is done with sincerity. It is not done to take a shot at the idea of reading the Constitution. But certainly, when we were informed, for example, that the three-fifths clause would not be mentioned and that other elements of the Constitution which justify why some of us fight for programs in the Congress will not be written in the redacted version, it is of consequence to whom we are.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include extraneous materials and a statement entered into the Record directly after the reading of the Constitution.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, are there two more votes before Members dash out of here tonight? There are two more votes.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, in about a month, almost every Member of this body will be speaking at events in their district commemorating the life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his famous, ``I Have a Dream'' speech. Amid the soaring rhetoric and the beautiful prose, Dr. King made a clear point. In a sense, we have come to our Nation's capital ``to cash a check. When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American wants to fall heir. That note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' And I paraphrase, It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the people a bad check which has come back marked ``insufficient funds.'' But we refuse to believe the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vault of opportunity in this great Nation. So we have come to cash this check--a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. Mr. Chairman, if we pass this bill, it will signal a refusal to pay our fair share into the vaults of opportunity for all Americans. It will drive up the debt and put pressure on our Nation's Capital to cut programs for the most vulnerable. If this agreement passes, when out- of-work Americans look in the 112th Congress for help in paying their rent, our Nation's Capital will look to those Americans and say, insufficient funds. When we look to veterans who need health care that is owed them, the 112th Congress will say, insufficient funds. When our schools look for funding they need to teach our kids, our Congress will say, insufficient funds. Mr. Chairman, this bill will only drive up the deficit, which is already too high in the eyes of the American people. It will put even more pressure on Congress and the President to cut vital programs when we convene next year. If this sounds familiar to the American people, it should. In the early 1980s, President Reagan's budget director, David Stockman, conceived of a strategy called ``starve the beast.'' By cutting taxes and increasing military spending, the President could force Congress to cut social spending in order to control the deficit. As Stockman put it, they would cut ``real blood and guts stuff.'' You heard it from the Budget chairman a few moments ago. When they're in charge, they plan to cut real blood and guts stuff. Mr. Chairman, if this tax deal goes through, blood and guts will affect us. At a time when they're needed the most, they will put these important programs on the chopping block. Indeed, Mr. Chairman, we refuse to believe that the American people should be forced to accept this tax deal, to accept ``insufficient funds.'' We see $858 billion that should be in the vaults of opportunity of this Nation. And that's why we oppose this bill. Members will follow me opposed to any argument that say there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity to rebuild this Nation.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just wanted to ask the question. I was hoping the gentleman might comment on whether or not his impression of the bill was that it was deficit neutral. The gentleman has spoken about the deficit in the past. I wanted to know if he wanted to comment on that.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to join my colleague from California (Mr. Garamendi) in supporting the rule and also in expressing my opposition to this bill. A number of Members of Congress will come and express their opposition to the bill in the debate, and I wanted to use some of the time during the rule to set the climate for what many Members of this body will be hearing. I want to start with a couple of quotes that, I think, ought to drive some of the discussion that will be taking place here on the floor. The first is from The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Adam Smith: ``The subjects of every State ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the State. As Henry Home (Lord Kames) has written, a goal of taxation should be to `remedy inequality of riches as much as possible by relieving the poor and burdening the rich.' '' William Jennings Bryan, at the Democratic National Convention, on July 8, 1896, said, ``I am in favor of an income tax. When I find a man''--or a woman--``who is not willing to bear his share of the burdens of the government which protects him, I find a man who is unworthy to enjoy the blessings of a government like ours.'' Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in Worcester, Massachusetts, on October 21, 1936, said, ``Taxes, after all, are the dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society.'' There will be great debate on the floor of this Congress tonight about extending the Bush-era tax cuts. The Bush-era tax cuts, which are an extension of the Reagan tax cuts of the 1980s, represent one of the most profound shifts of wealth in our Nation from those most vulnerable to those who are well-heeled--those who are better positioned in our society to make their way through life. So it is our hope, Mr. Speaker, that this debate be conducted in a way that allows for people to participate.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Monday next; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, for morning-hour debate.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Whereas, Grant Elementary School located at 2712 Miller Avenue in School District #170 of Chicago Heights, Illinois opened its doors in 1910. Whereas, Grant Elementary has provided education to tens of thousands of children from the Chicago Heights/South Chicago Heights community during the past 100 years. Whereas, Grant Elementary has served a diverse student body, providing an exemplary education for children in kindergarten through eighth grades. Whereas, On October 19, 2010 current and past students and their families, as well as residents and elected officials of Chicago Heights and South Chicago Heights will celebrate Grant Elementary's Centennial Anniversary. Resolved, That along with the past and present students, teachers, faculty and friends of Grant Elementary and the residents of the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois, I congratulate Grant Elementary School for providing 100 years of excellence in education to students in Chicago Heights and South Chicago Heights.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences to the family and friends of one of my most prestigious colleagues, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy lived one of the most extraordinary lives in American political history. He was the last brother of one of America's most storied families; one of our all-time great senators; and a champion for human rights. His legislative accomplishments have touched and improved the lives of virtually everyone who lived in this great country for the past half a century. Albert C. Caswell approached me shortly after Senator Kennedy's funeral with a poem he wrote titled, ``Our Nation's Tears''. My colleagues may recognize Mr. Caswell's familiar face as he has served as a Tour Guide in the U.S. Capitol for the past 23 years. I was moved by Mr. Caswell's poem and he has asked that I submit it in the Congressional Record. I ask unanimous consent to add my statement and his poem to the Congressional Record and I encourage my colleagues to read it. Our Nation's Tears (By Albert Carey Caswell) Our . . . Our Nation's Tears . . . As so now lie here! For one of America's finest son's, this oh so cherished one . . . A Champion, for Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Daughters and Sons. . . For Seniors, and our most precious of all ones . . . our Children . . . For America, and all of these ones! Our Lion of The Senate Ted, so very dear . . . As it's for or thee, we now so shed such tears . . . As down our quivering cheeks they now so run! All for you Ted, and your great American family my son . . . And that great love story, that our Lord God had so begun! And that great Irish family, that came from far across those seas . . . But, for a better life to be . . . And that great void now so left, as upon our souls as now so etched . . . And that great hole in all our hearts, this abyss . . . Ah, but lies such depth . . . All in this great caesium, with us you have so left . . . For this our nation, our Teddy bear . . . you have so blessed! As our tears fall like the rains . . . As it's for you Teddy, we now so cry out all in our pain . . . As comes from our swollen eyes . . . As it's for or you, our shining Knight. . . we now so weep . . . For in our heart's, you . . . we shall so keep! As we pray to our Lord above, that your soul he shall so reap! For our True Champion, has so died! As like Your Profile's in Courage, we too must so rise! As you have so taught our nation, so over the many years . . . That out of such loss, such heartache . . . and such swollen tears . . . That somehow, light too can come! And that somehow, we must all so persevere! With A Smile, With A Grin . . . With The Heart of A Child, and a work ethic so then! And to cherish each new day, as it begins! And make each new day count! Time and time, and time again! And hold your families ever so close! For this is life's full measure, that which so means the most! Sail on my Son! We will hear your heart on the ocean's setting sun's . . . Our beautiful brother from Boston! For Heaven so hold's a place, for our most precious one! For such men, of such courage, kindness, style and grace . . . And who have worked and prayed for redemption, in all they've faced! And live by such undying Faith! Of such men so bright, who have all our heart's so bathed in all their light . . . As the baby bore the load, lesson's learned . . . profiles in courage he so earned . . . How, Teddy raised his head each day. . . was but a lesson for all of us to stay! To take heart, to take pause . . . all in your pain, and remember his life cause . . . To remember his smile, and ever his heart of a child . . . And that up in Heaven on this day . . . Four brothers are so reunited, in a football game . . . ``And remember, that the work goes on!'' ``The cause endures!'' ``The hope still lives!'' ``And the dream shall never die!'' Ted, our most precious one . . . can you but not in Heaven hear my son? All of Our Nation's swollen tears, these ones! And for you, our Nation cry! In loving memory of Senator Edward Kennedy, May our Lord bless you our warm son, and your family.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 744.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of House Resolution 648.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, are these 2-minute votes or 5- minute votes, the series?

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object. While it is not my intention to object to the bill, I wanted to thank Representative Peter King for introducing this legislation in the House, and I was honored to join him as a cosponsor of this bill. Mr. Speaker, Jack was the first African American to win the world heavyweight boxing championship and was a trailblazer. After defeating Tommy Burns and winning the world heavyweight boxing title in 1908, resentment grew as his wins continued and his flamboyant behavior unfairly earned him the disdain of many. In fact, it was his interracial relationships that led to his arrest on charges of violating the Mann Act's prohibition against ``transporting women across State lines for immoral purposes.'' Mr. Speaker, I felt compelled to come back to this floor because one of the chief advocates of this legislation is the late Vernon Forrest who came to this Congress 3 years ago, met with Members of the Congress in the House, met with Senator McCain in the Senate, we had a press conference in the ``swamp'' to support this posthumous legislation on behalf of the late Jack Jackson. Vernon Forrest in Atlanta was shot this week 8 times in the back, and he will be memorialized, I believe, later this week or sometime this weekend. I wanted to say on behalf of a grateful Nation and grateful Congress to the Forrest family how grateful we were for his conscientiousness, for his willingness to fight for something bigger than himself, and for the extraordinary legacy that he has left us all. I want to thank the Judiciary Committee and Representative Peter King for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this very timely bill to the Congress. And, as Ken Burns states, Jack Johnson's story was ``about freedom and one black man's insistence that he be able to live a life nothing short of a free man.'' Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation and urge the immediate passage of S. Con. Res. 29.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 538, a resolution supporting Chicago, my hometown's bid to host the summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2016, and to congratulate Congresswoman Schakowsky for rallying the Congress behind this important effort. Chicago, with its diverse culture and international flair, is an ideal host for these games. Since the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, the city and its people have been internationally recognized for hosting magnificent events on a global stage. With world-class museums, outstanding restaurants, numerous accommodations and stadiums, the city would provide a resounding welcome, hearty embrace and ideal environment to host Olympic athletes and visitors from around the world. Chicagoans are also known for their passion for sports: the world- famous Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Furthermore, the Olympic games will bring many needed jobs, economic opportunities, and infrastructure investments to our Nation. Chicago 2016 has worked with more than 75 community groups to ensure that opportunities in construction, procurement and jobs will be shared by everybody. The games will create the equivalent of 315,000 full-time jobs for at least 1 year and generate $7 billion in wages. Chicago's bid uses existing facilities, the lakefront and parks so no residents will be displaced as a result of construction related to the games. The new permanent venues that are proposed will serve communities after the games, providing sports facilities, pools, tennis courts and recreational spaces in our parks and on our lakefront. The International Olympic Committee will make a decision on October 3. I can't think of a better way to demonstrate the House's support for Chicago's bid and America's bid than voting for this resolution. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye,'' and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Objection.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Cardoza for the time. I want to begin my comments by congratulating Chairwoman Nita Lowey for drafting the bill before us today. I also want to thank Ranking Member Granger for working with the majority, and I also want to recognize both the majority and minority subcommittee staff for their professionalism and tireless work in producing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support of H.R. 3081, the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill. There are few things that we do on an annual basis that are more important and crucial to the success of U.S. foreign policy than passing this bill. U.S. foreign policy can only be successful if we make crucial investments in the three D's: defense, diplomacy, and development. Ideally, all three, defense, diplomacy and development, should be considered equal legs of the same stool. However, this is currently not the case. This year we are going to spend somewhere north of $500 billion for defense. This bill, diplomacy and development, only totals $48 billion. Despite the fact that the allocation for this bill is $3.2 billion below the President's request, and $1.2 billion below the comparable fiscal year 2009 level, this is a well-written and measured bill, taking into account the concerns of both the majority and the minority. However, I am worried about some of the amendments that have been made in order by the rule that would eviscerate some of the vital programs in this bill in the name of fiscal discipline. I am worried, Mr. Speaker, because yesterday in the developing world nearly 15,000 to 20,000 people died of extreme poverty. Today in the developing world, 15,000 to 20,000 people will die of extreme poverty. Tomorrow in the developing world, 15,000 to 20,000 people will die of extreme poverty. Extreme poverty, like malnutrition and disease, are claiming tens of thousands of lives every day, despite the fact that we know how to save many of these lives. The bill before us has the real potential to reverse these facts. Look at what has been done to date with our foreign aid: smallpox eradication began in the 1960s; control of river blindness in the 1970s; increased child immunizations in the 1980s; initiatives to fight Guinea worm, trachoma and leprosy in the 1990s; and the effort to end polio in this decade. Measurable results produced with the dollars in this bill. Mr. Speaker, let me point out some of the highlights of this measure. This bill improves our diplomatic capabilities by funding 1,000 new foreign service professionals and improves our development capabilities by funding 300 new USAID personnel. This bill provides funds for both our multilateral and bilateral peacekeeping operations. The bill provides increases for global health programs that fight the scourge of HIV, TB and malaria. The bill provides increases for development assistance programs. Some of these funds are educating children and providing clean drinking water and sanitation around the world. The bill provides $224 million for Liberia, a shining example of a post-conflict country that is now on the road to recovery instead of becoming a potential failed state and a potential haven for terrorists. Now, I understand that some of the Members plan to offer amendments to cut key increases in programs in this bill; but this is penny wise and pound foolish. Again, for our foreign policy to be successful, we can't just use sticks; we also have to use carrots. We need to invest in diplomacy and development the same way we do defense. I am sure some will defend their amendments by saying in tough economic times we don't need to spend one dime overseas. These arguments also are shortsighted. The money we spend on development and humanitarian programs overseas is an investment in more stability, more security, and more sustainability. It is an investment in our long-term national security interests. It is an investment in a safer, freer, and more democratic world. Not only is there a strong rational reason to support this bill and oppose all of the amendments to cut these vital programs; there is a moral one as well. When we were debating the fiscal year 2008 Foreign Operations bill, Chairman Frank Wolf, former ranking member, said it best when he said, ``I believe this bill has the potential to do a lot of good, and I want to say that this bill will help save a lot of lives not only here but around the world. This is the work of the Lord,'' Frank Wolf said. ``This bill,'' he said, ``is really to feed the poor, the hungry, the naked, the sick. Almost a better title of this bill,'' Frank Wolf said, ``would be the Matthew 25 bill.'' I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, Mr. Speaker, and to look closely at some of these amendments because some of these amendments would cut the Lord's work by 5 percent across the board. Others would cut the Lord's work by $1.2 billion. And other amendments, Mr. Speaker, eviscerate programs that are designed to help the poorest amongst the poor. Support this bill; support this rule; and support this measure.

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, if there is a God, and I believe there is, and that God distributes grace and mercy and talent to all of his children, on August 29, 1958, he visited Gary, Indiana, and touched a young man with an abundance of his blessings. With that gift, Michael Joe Jackson would touch and change the world. His heart couldn't get any bigger, and yesterday, it arrested. I come to the floor today on behalf of a generation to thank God for letting all of us live in his generation and in his era. With that, Madam Speaker, we would ask Members to please stand for a moment of silence.