Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I ask unanimous consent to include my statement in the Record in support of the amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lincoln Electric, a manufacturer in my congressional district, for receiving the President's ``E Star'' Award for Exports. Lincoln Electric's export achievements are significant because it supports our economy by helping create jobs in Ohio and the United States. The President's ``E Star'' Award is awarded for continued superior performance in increasing or promoting exports. Only previous recipients of the ``E'' Award are eligible. Lincoln Electric was presented with the President's ``E'' Award in 1994 for its strong commitment to developing and growing exports. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading position in brazing and soldering alloys. Lincoln Electric has approximately 3,000 hard-working employees in Northeast Ohio, and 7,000 nationwide and throughout the globe. Exhibiting its commitment to its employees, Lincoln Electric guarantees employment to its workers after three years of service. The company has not exercised its layoff options in the United States operations since post war 1948. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will present Lincoln Electric with the President's ``E Star'' Award. I am proud of Lincoln Electric, which since its founding in 1895 by brothers John and James Lincoln, has shown a strong commitment to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. I praise Lincoln Electric and its hard-working employees and wish them continued success.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend my chairman, Mel Watt, for the work that he has done in this area, and particularly my colleague Bobby Scott from Virginia for all of his work. Mr. Chairman, I want to focus on one particular area, and that is the provision in the CBC budget that doubles training funds for trade adjustment assistance programs to $518 million. This program was established in 1962, and it assists workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade by providing unemployment and job training. We keep hearing from the Republican side that unemployment is down and dollars are up, but in my congressional district, there are areas where unemployment is significant, and specifically due to trade. Mr. Chairman, I ask all of you to join us in supporting this CBC budget that provides for job training and unemployment assistance for those workers who would love to pay taxes if they only had a job. Mr. Chairman, the Congressional Black Caucus budget is fiscally responsible and protects the services that millions of hard working Americans depend on. The CBC alternative balances the budget in five years, and adopts the pay-as-you-go budget rules. At the same time, our budget increases spending for health care by $20 billion, education and job training by $80 billion, and veteran benefits by $20 billion. That is fiscal responsibility--balancing our checkbook without cutting the important services that millions of Americans depend on. One provision in the CBC budget that I strongly support is the doubling of training funds for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to $518,000,000. The program, which was established in 1962, assists workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade by providing unemployment benefits and job training. However, many states exhaust their TAA training funds well before the end of the fiscal year. In its past three budgets, the Administration has only requested an increase for TAA training of only $100,000. That is unacceptable and insufficient when measured against the number of jobs being lost due to international trade. I urge my colleagues to support this TAA provision and the CBC budget--fiscally responsible while at the same time fair to millions of hard working Americans.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the opportunity to be heard. I was sitting in my chair over there, and people kept complimenting me today about this scarf that is about Save the Children. And I started thinking, you know, when I was a little girl we used to play this game called ``What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf'' And Mr. Wolf would say, ``1:00.'' And we would go on and you say, ``Well, what time is it, Mr. Wolf?'' And he would say, ``2:00.'' And then next was, ``Well, what time is it, Mr. Wolf?'' And then he would say, ``It's time to eat you up.'' And that is what I am thinking about with this legislation. What time is it? It ought to be time for our children to know that we would expend money to improve opportunities for education. It ought to be time for us to take money and tell seniors you don't have to sign up on May 15; you sign up when you get ready, but we are going to ensure you that you have a prescription drug benefit. It ought to be time to tell children across the country that we are going to extend deductions for classroom expenses for teachers. It ought to be time that we would extend deduction of tuition and related expenses for students. It ought to be time that we tell companies that we are going to provide them an R&D, or research and development, tax credit. It ought to be time for us to tell working families that we are going to cover the AMT and remove it from the situation. But, instead, when we ask, ``What time is it, Mr. Wolf?'' his response is that we are going to make sure that the top 1 percent get a tax deduction. And one of my colleagues said, ``You ought to have faith in the human spirit.'' When I say, ``What time is it, Mr. Wolf?'' I am afraid that there is no human spirit left out here, because if there was human spirit in the House of Representatives, we would not even be debating this issue today. What time is it, Mr. Wolf? Well, today we are going to deal with some tax reductions, and when we ask, Well, why not the AMT for a longer period of time? Oh, we are going to do that in the next tax bill. And the appearance they want to give to the world is that each month we are going to do a tax bill reduction. Instead of ``What time is it, Mr. Wolf?'' I am going to take care of the children.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, during a conference of October 7, 2005, titled ``Torture and the War on Terrorism'' Case Western Reserve University School of Law facilitated discussions with legal scholars from across the country focused on international law. The conference culminated in adoption of The Cleveland Principles, which express the view that acts of torture should never be used or justified as a tool of the Global War on Terror. International law establishes a normative framework to advance international peace and security. The reciprocity of international law protects Americans abroad as well as individuals within the control of our government. I commend Case Western Reserve University School of Law for its leadership on this issue and I would like to enter into the Congressional Record, The Cleveland Principles. The Cleveland Principles of International Law on the Detention and Treatment of Persons in Connection with ``The Global War on Terror'' Introduction In the context of revelations about the mistreatment of detainees at U.S. detention centers in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan; the practice of ``irregular rendition'' as a means of outsourcing torture; the existence of US-created ``black sites'' where ``ghost detainees'' are interrogated abroad; and the content of the leaked ``White House Torture memos''--the Cleveland Principles were adopted by the undersigned experts who took part in the ``Torture and the War on Terror'' Conference at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 7, 2005. The Principles have been endorsed by the numerous other experts whose names are also listed below. The undersigned include current and former high-ranking government, military, and international organization officials, prominent academics, and leading practitioners in the field--representing all ends of the political spectrum. The Principles are intended as a clear restatement, written in plain English, of the fundamental international legal rules that apply to the treatment of persons in connection with the so-called ``Global War on Terror.'' The goal was to produce a text that would be easy for the American public, members of the military, and members of Congress to understand--a text that would unambiguously spell out that in the context of the Global War on Terror, there is no law-free zone, torture can never be justified; outsourcing torture is unlawful; and that government personnel may be criminally liable for involvement in acts of torture. The Cleveland Principles Principle 1: With respect to the ``Global War on Terror,'' there is no law-free zone. International Law (which includes International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, and International Criminal Law) applies to all contexts and persons in the ``Global War on Terror.'' The ``Global War on Terror'' is not in its entirety an armed conflict. When, and for so long as, the ``Global War on Terror'' does manifest itself in armed conflict, the rights of persons detained and the obligations of detaining authorities, are governed by International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions. International Human Rights Law, including the Convention Against Torture and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, also applies to situations of armed conflict, to the extent that its provisions are not inconsistent with applicable international humanitarian law. Whenever persons are detained outside the factual framework of armed conflict, international humanitarian law is not applicable and international human rights law, including the Convention Against Torture and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, applies instead. Principle 2: Whenever there is any doubt about whether an individual apprehended in the Global War on Terror is entitled to Prisoner of War status, the decision must be made on a case-by-case basis by a competent tribunal. Persons who do not qualify for POW status under the Third Geneva Convention are still entitled to humane treatment and the other applicable guarantees of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In addition, such persons must not be subject to acts of torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in accordance with the Torture Convention. Principle 3: Nothing in the ``Global War on Terror'' can justify violating the prohibition on committing acts of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Interrogation in the context of the ``Global War on Terror,'' whether conducted by military personnel or intelligence agents, and whether conducted inside or outside of the State's territory, must never cross the boundaries of humane treatment. Principle 4: Use of so-called ``irregular rendition'' as a means of outsourcing torture to third countries is unlawful. No person acting as an agent of a government may participate in the transfer of any person to any country for interrogation where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Diplomatic assurances from the receiving State that the person will not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are not a sufficient basis upon which it may be determined that such treatment or punishment will not be imposed, where the receiving State has demonstrated a history of engaging in such treatment. Principle 5: Governments and Government personnel are obligated to strictly adhere to the international law applicable to the ``Global War on Terror'' as set forth in the above principles. States are responsible under international law for violations of these principles committed by the Government's personnel or agents, or by private parties exercising traditional government functions with the Government's acquiescence, whether the act occurs in the territory of the State or outside the territory of the State. Persons who breach or order violations of these principles, or who aid and abet the breach of these principles, or who fail to punish subordinates who have committed breaches of these principles, may face individual criminal liability at home and/or in foreign or international courts.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I serve on the Ways and Means Committee, and I rise in support of Mr. Miller's motion to instruct conferees. Eliminating wear-away, or the fact that dollars for older workers under a cash balance plan tend to wear away in value, is very important. We need to ensure that when an employer converts from a traditional defined benefit plan to a cash balance plan, workers receive their full benefits. But we also need to ensure that we draft rules that protect older workers, because they could be vulnerable during such conversions. But more importantly, I want to talk about the issue of retroactivity. Addressing retroactivity is important to the retirement security of many American workers in my congressional district. Employers that sponsor cash balance plans and other hybrid plans have been hanging in limbo for almost 7 years. The Internal Revenue Service has felt it necessary to temporarily stop issuing determination letters for converted hybrid plans, and litigation throughout our court system has left the legality of all cash balance plans up in the air. In my congressional district, I have four major employers that offer pension benefits to their employees through either a cash balance or other hybrid pension plan. Some of these plans were acquired through mergers/acquisitions while some were adopted through conversions. The employers treated their employees fairly, giving them the choice whether or not to convert the plans, and ensuring that worker benefits were not diluted, and these four employers are not alone. There are a lot of good actors across the country. According to a recent AARP-funded study, 23 of the largest 25 cash balance plans, or 92 percent, provided transition protections for their older employees when converting from traditional defined benefit plans to cash balance plans. Nonetheless, the four employers in my district, as well as 1,100 others across the country, are caught in a web of legal uncertainty. We are in an era where companies are eliminating their pension plans, including hybrid plans; not fixing this problem will only perpetuate that trend. A recent survey of planned sponsors by Watson Wyatt showed that more than 25 percent of our employers who offer a hybrid pension plan either froze their plan or were actively considering terminating or freezing their plan. A cash balance is a defined benefit plan, and it is the future of our defined benefit system. It allows people to move from one employer to the other employer. But we need to give them protections in that process. If Congress does not resolve the legal uncertainty that cash balance plans currently face, employers will continue to terminate their pensions. That would not be beneficial to the retirement security of hard working Americans. The conferees need to address retroactivity and establish benefit accrual standards and establish benefit accrual standards as it relates to age discrimination and that encourage employers to retain their cash balance plans and not dump them. For Congress to not resolve this issue would be unwise public policy and would put the retirement security of thousands of workers at risk. This is our chance to fix the problem. We must seize it. On behalf of the workers and companies, let's clear up this confusion and put workers back in the right place.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the House about how the Republicans' fiscal year 2007 budget resolution will create serious problems for women and children. The budget resolution put forth by the Republicans, which we will vote on tomorrow, undercuts and undervalues women's contributions to the American labor force. The wage gap among women and men continues today. Women earn on average 76 cents to every dollar that a man earns. The Republican budget resolution eliminates the Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations Act. This program, which only costs $1 million per year, provides grants to employers to help recruit, train and retain women in nontraditional, well-paying jobs. The budget also cuts funding for the Women's Bureau in the Department of Labor, the only Federal agency with primary responsibility for serving and promoting interests of working women. I urge my colleagues to defeat the Republican budget resolution.

Ms. JONES of Ohio

Ms. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, making thoughtful and informed decisions about your finances is more important than ever. Financial literacy and education are the foundation for wealth building. Being knowledgeable of the different financial products available leads to increased wealth among individuals and families and is key to stimulating the economy. There are many more aspects of financial literacy than knowing how to open and maintain a savings or checking account. In today's society, increasingly more adults, young and old participate in financial decision making including, life insurance coverage, 401(k)s, stocks, business, investments, credit cards, mortgage loans, and automobile financing. I believe that financial literacy should be taught at an early age. Parents should instill in their young children the value of saving and investing. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, more young people filed for bankruptcy than graduated from college in 2001. In addition, personal bankruptcy filings were up 7.4 percent last year. There are several programs like JumpStart, which are geared toward teaching children and young adults the basics of financial management. The JumpStart Organization in Ohio was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from The McGraw-Hill Companies to launch Financial Literacy for Teachers Training Workshops for Pre-Teachers and Teacher Training in Personal Finance Basics in five different regions in Ohio. This grant will equip them with the knowledge, tools, skills and resources to instruct their students to develop personal financial skills and to enable them to apply money management skills effectively in their everyday lives. Surprisingly, half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. In addition, 40 percent of Americans say they live beyond their means. I realize it is often more difficult for lower income individuals and those who live on a month to month basis to save, but one would be surprised how much a small weekly or monthly saving could accumulate over a period of time if it is allowed to grow. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution, and urge my colleagues on the House and Senate to pass this important measure.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Sergeant Major Willie Beasley on his retirement from Collinwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Sergeant Major Beasley has served as Assistant Instructor and Military Property Custodian at Collinwood High School for the past 12 years. Sergeant Major Beasley is a valued member of the faculty at Collinwood High School and has earned the reputation of being an outstanding teacher and mentor to young adults. He is highly regarded in the community for his dedication to the cadets in the Army JROTC program at Collinwood. Through the Army JROTC, over 1200 students have been directed under his tutelage. Sergeant Major Beasley also served in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam where he demonstrated leadership in combat as a platoon sergeant and acting platoon leader. There he distinguished himself earning a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Sergeant Major Beasley's selfless service, superior achievement and loyal dedication to the youth of the City of Cleveland are immeasurable. On behalf of the nation and the constituents of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, I thank you for your service and tremendous sacrifices you have made for our country. Congratulations on your retirement and on a job well done.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 355, recognizing the importance of school based music education. In today's climate of high stakes testing, it's important to recognize that skills learned through studying music translate to skills that help students succeed in life. Empirical data suggest that music students perform higher than their counterparts on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and also demonstrate higher math skills. Studies also show that students who participate in a band or orchestra show the lowest lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Students that participate in music classes are less likely to be disruptive students in class. Among minority students, more identify their music teachers as role models than any other subject area. These students demonstrate higher self-esteem and thinking skills than their counterparts. As a parent, I know that students who learn to think critically, perform analysis, and express themselves through written and verbal communication have a greater chance at success in life. Within a larger context, music is an essential cultural thread. How many people, whether listening to the O'Jay's, Bon Jovi, or Jill Scott, know that the term ``Rock and Roll'' is African American slang dating back to the early 20th Century? But music, whether rock and roll, classical, or jazz has come to mean much more. Within my district, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cleveland Institute of Music provide music history and distance learning programs for many schools that haven't been able to afford their own music education teachers. The usefulness of these music programs underscores the importance of filling student needs at a time when our society needs better teaching methods and a greater understanding of diversity, not less. Educators with whom I meet, often express frustration that compressed school schedules and the focus on high stakes testing are failing to help our children develop the critical thinking skills needed to compete in an increasingly complex world. Music education aids critical thinking and more. I believe it imperative that we recognize its importance in the lives of our children, and strive to make school based music education available to all of America's youth.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this motion to instruct. The Republican priorities are backwards. See, the point is that we want to help middle-class America. They say they passed an AMT bill separate from the reconciliation, but the reality is, by doing that, they would push the deficit higher. We want this motion to instruct to pass because it will be much like the Senate bill that requires the AMT to be reduced. Some of the tax cuts that will need to be extended in this conference are important to our economy: the R&D tax credit, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit, the expensing of brownfields environmental remediation costs, and the New Markets Tax Credit. I do not want anybody to think that Democrats do not like capital gains and dividends. We want people to have capital gains and dividends, and we want them to have a benefit, but right now, we are talking about the poor people, the middle-class, working people in this country who are not getting the benefit from capital gains and dividends. I think the number is $7. Let us see, right now, perhaps you could buy 2\1/2\ gallons of gas; $7, perhaps you could buy two gallons of milk; $7, you cannot buy your baby a pair of shoes; $7, you cannot buy a blouse; $7, you cannot put a ham or a steak on the table. Give me a break. These people, the middle-class, working people of this country, need the support that we can give them through this instruction about an AMT. Now, we want you to know that we want capital gains and dividends to be extended. We understand the importance, but we do not have to deal with it now. It is not up till 2008. Right now, AMT, you can ask anybody on the street, I get letters and calls from my constituents, help me with the AMT. Most people right now cannot even get a dividend or a capital gains because they are in such financial straits that they are unable to handle it. I will also tell you, I heard one of my colleagues talk about how many jobs have been created. You know how they determine how many jobs have been created? By looking at how many people have been back to the unemployment bureau to determine how many jobs have been created. The problem with that concept is, there are a lot of my constituents who have stood in line and stood in line looking for a job, cannot get a job. The jobs that have been created are nothing like the jobs that we have lost. In Ohio, we have lost some 200,000 jobs since 2001. In the city of Cleveland, we have lost 60,000 jobs since 2001. These were jobs that were paying $20-some; the jobs they have been replaced with are $5.25-an-hour jobs where they do not get health care and they cannot raise a family on $5.25. All we are asking in this instruction is for fairness for working- class folks. Take it back where everybody gets a benefit. In that drug bill, we gave a benefit to the drug companies. In other bills, we did a benefit to the folks who are supposed to be helping us in Iraq and they are walking off with the money. Take care of the people in America. Pass this bill.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it is time the House Republicans stand up to the Bush White House and say they are not going to allow America's seniors to be penalized for a complicated and confusing drug proposal they helped create. It was bad enough that the Republicans allowed the big drug companies to write their own prescription drug plan for them, but now that a deadline looms 47 days away that would inflict a tax on seniors who have not yet chosen a plan, Republicans seem willing to, once again, blindly follow the President. Earlier someone made the comment that Democrats are not doing enough to have seniors sign up for the plan. I beg to differ. I work very hard to have my seniors sign up and save money, but they will never save as much, the billions of dollars that went to the drug companies, as the drug companies will receive in that process. House Republicans seem willing to once again rubber-stamp a plan that would inflict a Bush prescription drug tax on seniors for the rest of their lives. They have yet to show any support for Democratic efforts to extend the sign-up deadline to the end of the year. While America's seniors continue to pay outrageously high prices for their prescription drugs, House Republicans can no longer just rubber- stamp.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to H.R. 609, the Higher Education Reauthorization Act. I believe this is a missed opportunity to make a genuine effort to provide educational opportunities to our children. I am disappointed that this bill does not effectively address the financial needs of low and middle income students. After passage of the Deficit Reduction Act, the Republicans put another financial hurdle in the way of many students ability to pay for college. They cut funding for student loans while raising the interest rate. I am also bothered that the Academic Competitiveness Grants that were created make part-time students ineligible for them. This effectively exempts 62 percent of community college students. If we are to create grants aimed at assisting students attending college we need to make them available to all students who qualify full and part-time. H.R. 609 is the vehicle to correct the wrong that has been done to underprivileged students, but sadly it does not address it. H.R. 609 caps Pell Grants at $6000, this amount does not adequately address the needs of low income students. It does not decrease the interest rates on students' loans, and it does not increase the authorization of Perkins Loans. With growing tuition costs we need to be doing everything we can to assist students in seeking a higher education. H.R. 609 does not adequately address the needs of our Nation's students, and I want to express my oppositions to its passage.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the many men and women that serve on the Peace Corps. I believe you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. The many men and women that serve on the Peace Corps are part of the solution in creating international peace. In 1961 when John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps he intended to promote world peace and friendships. Today, in the twenty first century Peace Corps members play a vital role in the United States by serving other countries in the cause of peace. The volunteers work on many different projects that help people in interested countries meet their needs for trained men and women, and also help encourage a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. Members of the Peace Corps serve our country by assisting countries around the world. Finding common ways to address global challenges such as, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and also building unbending bonds of friendship across an ever shrinking world is one of the many developmental programs the Peace Corps offers. Another project that Peace Corps members assisted in was the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts project. Along with FEMA they aided the many victims in need of help from the unfortunate natural disaster. Members of the Peace Corps not only bring back ideas from different cultures, they also share their American culture with foreign countries. Join me in applauding our fellow Peace Corps members on 45 years of dedicated service to our country. I wish them much success and encourage our young people to take advantage of the great opportunities the Peace Corps has to offer.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise simply to complain again as others have about port security in the United States of America. We cannot afford to outsource our homeland security, and that is exactly what the Bush administration wants to do with the United Arab Emirates. On Monday, March 20, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio, at Idea Stream, 1375 Euclid Avenue, I will be hosting a town hall meeting on port security in my congressional district. Everyone is invited, and we have free parking. The UAE deal has highlighted to the American people how vulnerable our ports remain more than 4 years after 9/11. They simply can't believe that only 6 percent of the cargo that comes into our ports is ever inspected before it is transported throughout our Nation. This is a serious gap in our homeland security, and it could have been prevented. For 4 years my Democratic colleagues and I have tried to increase funding for port security to shore up this serious security gap. And every single year the Republican majority has opposed our efforts. What are they waiting for? Are House Republicans waiting for biological or chemical agents to come through our ports to be used against Americans before they finally choose to act? We simply cannot afford to wait any longer. It's time for House Republicans to join Democrats in supporting the funding necessary to secure our ports.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., a company that has been a pillar of the Cleveland business community and which, I hope, will continue to be an important part of our city and our regional economy for years to come. The company's predecessor was incorporated on January 9, 1931, to develop innovative applications for beryllium. These applications play a significant role in many aspects of our lives, from early diagnosis and treatment of disease to critical areas of homeland security and national defense. It is well known that for more than a hundred years the City of Cleveland has been a major center of this country's industrial might, providing the essential goods and services needed by fellow citizens throughout the United States and, indeed, by people throughout the world. In addition to its economic contributions, Cleveland has been a world-class center of learning, of the arts and music, and of medical research and health care. It is a city with a proud and productive tradition. In recent years, like many other cities in the Midwest, Cleveland has been buffeted by a national economic downturn, exacerbated by competition overseas. A number of our Cleveland companies have been forced to close down, others cut their payrolls, still others relocated. Brush Engineered Materials has never wavered in its commitment to the City of Cleveland. Headquartered for all of its 75 years within the city, it provides quality employment and payroll tax revenues, business opportunities for suppliers and vendors, property taxes, and a measure of hope for its Collinwood-Nottingham neighborhood. This Cleveland company played a major role in defending freedom and providing support for our armed forces in World War II, in lowering the Iron Curtain, in developing the Nation's space program, in increasing the efficiency of oil exploration, improving the mileage of our automobiles, saving lives through mammography X-ray and other medical imaging equipment, and saving lives on the road through air bags and improved automotive braking systems. It also provides essential parts for the computers and cell phones that keep us connected every day. In today's military, it helps save the lives of our brave men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing infrared and optical sensors for radar and navigation systems and unmanned aerial vehicles. And in homeland security, materials from Brush are used in air traffic control radar, airport X-ray inspection, wireless communications, global positioning systems and other applications. Brush Engineered Materials of Cleveland has provided 75 years of innovation in beryllium and non-beryllium materials that have benefited our Nation in many fields. It has also established a tradition of public service and commitment to the community in which we can all take pride. I congratulate the people of Brush Engineered Materials for their many achievements and wish them continued success.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the life of Coretta Scott King. This morning, I woke, like many of you, to hear of the sad news of the passing of Mrs. King. As I watched the news and read the papers, I came across an article that said ``Coretta Scott King played a major backup role in the civil rights movement until the death of her husband, Martin Luther King.'' The words ``backup role'' stood out to me, because in my mind she always has been very much at the forefront. For so long she was simply known as the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, but she was so much more. Oftentimes we hear of the many great men who led the civil rights movement, but it was women who were in the heart and soul of that movement. I am reminded that in the City of Cleveland there were several ministers that were involved with Dr. King. One of them, Dr. Hoover, another, Dr. Otis Moss, another minister, and one of the daughters of those ministers, her name is Carol Hoover, ultimately became the head of the Chamber of Commerce in the City of Cleveland. And the reason I mention Carol Hoover is because Carol Hoover gave me my only opportunity to sit in a living room and have a long conversation with Mrs. King. And the thing that I remark about that opportunity was she was very soft spoken. She was so very, very regal in her style, and so very confident and comfortable in helping me understand what my role was in public life. I will never forget that opportunity that Carol Hoover gave me, and I will never forget Mrs. Coretta Scott King. If only we had a few more women like Coretta Scott King who handled tragedy so very well, but stood up, continued to raise a family, and helped us lift up her wonderful, wonderful husband. As we celebrate the life of this great woman let us continue to remember the work that she did. Let us encourage our children to understand what she went through in order to be such a great leader, and let us to continue to pray for all of her family. It is because of Coretta Scott King that the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King lives on to this day. It was Coretta whose hard work and determination led to the founding of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change and the establishment Martin Luther King's birthday as a national holiday. It is for these reasons and so many others that we honor and celebrate this great woman and her contributions to this country. She was the pillar of her family. Supporting her husband while raising four children during what were tumultuous times in our nation's history. Those of us who are mothers know that raising a child, particularly black children then and even in today's society is not an easy task. She was truly phenomenal. It is important that we understand that the dream of equality for all people was not just Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream but it was a shared dream of both he and Coretta Scott King. It was through her vision as well that today we are closer to that dream. As a tribute to this woman, I encourage everyone to help keep both Coretta and Dr. King's dream alive by working for peace and justice for all people.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 612. I congratulate the Iraqis for their successful election and request an open debate on Iraq on the House floor.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 646, the rule providing for the border security, H.R. 4437, I was outside the floor and as I returned the gavel went down. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. The prior speaker said we have fixed it. Well, if it is fixed, why are the airlines not included in the legislation? I have been on the floor of the House ever since I came here. My daddy worked for United for 40 years. My sister worked for United for 25 years. My brother-in-law worked for United for 27 years. My niece works for United right now. If we are so concerned about them, why is it not in the legislation? Secondly, if we fixed it, why is it unclear what happens with cash balance plans that are already in place and the IRS has not given them a decision? We go prospectively, but we do not go retroactively. In the City of Cleveland, there are four companies that went into a cash balance plan, and cash balance plans are the wave of the future. People want portability. They are not going to work for United, like my dad, for 40 years. They are going to work one place 7 years. They are going to work somewhere else 7 years, and they need to move their money around. It is the wave of the future, and we have not fixed cash balance plans. And I encourage my colleagues to fix it. If they are saying we fixed it, fix it right now. I want to encourage Mr. Boehner, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Camp and everyone else: Do not tell us we are going to fix it in conference. Put it in the bill. I would like to see it in writing. I want to see it in red, black, blue, brown, whatever color you want to give it to me. Our promises are idle if it is not in writing. I want this legislation to work for Americans because people do deserve certainty. They deserve certainty. Employers who went into a plan, they even paid up for their employees to deal with the issue of wear-away, and they cannot get clarity on the programs that they have in place right now. Help them. Fix it.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the service of one of our most distinguished members, Mr. John Dingell. Today we honor the ``Dean of the House'' as he celebrates 50 years of service to the people of the state of Michigan and of this country. We also celebrate his wonderful spouse Debbie Dingell. During his tenure in the House, Representative Dingell has fought for access to affordable healthcare, a strong economy, and the protection of our environment. He authored the 1990 Clean Air Act which is credited with cleaning up the air we breathe, while preserving American competitiveness. Additionally he has championed laws that address America's most pressing needs like the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Mammography Quality Standards Act. He has worked tirelessly for the people of Michigan's 15th District. He established the first international wildlife refuge in North America to protect thousands of acres of natural habitat in both Michigan and Canada. He worked with officials in Wayne County to save local taxpayers more than $350 million of the cost to stop pollution of the Rouge River and has been relentless in his efforts to limit the importation of Canadian waste into Michigan. Representative Dingell is truly a leader and trailblazer within the House of Representatives. He not only leads by example but sets the example by which we all strive to emulate. On behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, I thank you Representative Dingell for your leadership and wish you continued success.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House considered the recognition of the anniversary of the 13th amendment, H. Res. 196. On the 31st day of January, 1865, the 13th amendment was proposed to the State legislatures by the 38th Congress and ratified by 27 of the 36 State legislatures on December 6, 1865. January 31, 1865, the day the House passed the proposal, the gallery which had just opened to African-Americans erupted into cheers and Representatives on the House floor were visibly emotional, crying and hugging each other. Slavery had ended and the deep roots of the modern civil rights movement were planted. Although the abolition of slavery did not mean equality for all Americans, the amendment initiated a civil rights movement that continues to this day. Through the ratification of this landmark legislation, our government initiated the process to work towards uniting the American people. Their actions also inspired the eventual passage of the 14th amendment, which granted equal protection under the law, the 15th amendment, which gave African-American males the right to vote, and the 19th amendment which granted universal suffrage to all women. Despite these monumental changes in our Nation's constitution, African-Americans and other minorities continue to experience social and economical injustices. I submit to you Mr. Speaker that we still have a long way to go to rid our Nation of the vestiges of slavery and discrimination. By passing this legislation, we are renewing a national commitment towards eradicating racial and ethnic inequalities.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment my chairman, Mr. Charles Rangel, for his leadership on this issue. I am glad to be on the Ways and Means Committee and glad to have the opportunity to talk about some of these taxing issues. It just amazes me that the majority can stand here and have the gall to tell veterans that they are going to treat them better, to tell the people of America that they are better at solving problems than the government and so we are going to give them two cents back to pay for a $100 bill; to have the gall to say that we are not going to create bigger government and then they created the biggest institution ever, the Homeland Security Department; and that has not taken care of poor people across this country, particularly the victims of Katrina and Rita as it goes on. But can you imagine they will not tell the American people the truth. They will not tell them that last week we reduced programs so that this week we could extend taxes that do not even need to be extended. Can you contemplate that the extension of the capital gains dividends is going to cost us $50.7 billion over the next 10 years. Now, work with me for a moment. If you work with me, you could understand that with that $50.7 billion, 12,571,089 people could have health care coverage; 959,230 elementary school teachers could be paid; 7,331,106 Head Start places for children who need a head start could go back to school; 32,565,528 children could receive health care; and, more importantly, we could build 6,514 new elementary schools in these United States. But, instead, we are going to extend taxes beyond this year when we are still at war in Iraq and we are spending billions of dollars a day to give the Iraqi children what we will not even give our children right here at home. My math works better than that. See, I know one plus one equals two. I understand that it is these United States that is supposed to be taking care of our babies and giving them a chance to go to school and giving them a chance to go to college. And for them to have the gall to say that a janitor sitting on a stool is going to save some money or get some money on capital gains, give me a break. You know it is not the janitor sitting on the stool; you know it is the man who owns the janitorial company.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlemen from Louisiana for yielding me this time, and I would like to congratulate them on their leadership on these issues. I rise in strong support of the legislation today. As we learned in yesterday's congressional hearings, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, that is, the residents of the gulf region, are in need of help now. I rise in support and I am glad to see that this legislation, as was contemplated previously, incorporates some of the provisions of the legislation I introduced earlier in the year called the Katrina Assistance Tax Relief Incentive for Necessities Act. And it incorporated the Housing opportunity credits, the temporary housing tax credit, a homebuyer tax credit, doubling the low-income housing tax credit to assist Katrina victims. The place I want to weigh in at this moment however is on the importance, and I say this again, the importance of assuring that the people of these gulf regions have an opportunity to enjoy some of the work that is provided businesses by these tax credits. What I am worried about is that there are people coming from all over the country who do not live in these areas who are not having the opportunity to get a job. There are people spread in 44 States across this country who are from Louisiana, who are from Mississippi, who are from Alabama; and they want to come back and work. And there are businesses right there in those communities who want to have an opportunity to rebuild their communities, and it is not happening. I use this opportunity to say to the world, to say to my colleagues who are allocating resources for the rebuilding of the Katrina area, of the Katrina relief area, that we need to assure that the people of the area have an opportunity to rebuild their houses, have an opportunity to get jobs and put their lives back on track. Again, I thank my colleagues for sponsoring this legislation. I am glad to join with you as a member of the Ways and Means Committee in support.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. The Cleveland Plain Dealer.