Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I am pleased to rise in support of this amendment. In the city of Cleveland, I am sure you have heard from my colleague that we are in the midst of the closing of LTV Steel. That will impact some 3,200 workers at LTV, but also, in addition, the retirees and others who are supported by the steel industry. I rise in support of this Legacy Relief Program because the retiree costs in the industry are surely the highest costs that are paid by the industry. In the case of a steel company that ceases operation on or after January 1, 2000, current and future retirees, surviving spouses and dependents who are eligible for retiree health insurance at the time the company ceases operation shall be eligible to receive assistance. That is what our steel companies need. The percentage of the cost of retiree health care costs far exceeds the other costs of a steel company remaining in place. I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), for offering this amendment. I want to thank my other colleagues in the Steel Caucus who have stood up on behalf of steelworkers across this country. As we have talked over the past weeks of being in an economic crisis as a result of September 11, the steel industry is in an economic crisis, not just because of September 11, but because of the failure of our Nation to come up with a program that adequately addresses the steel industry. It is the long-term impact that has caused the steel industry to be in the dilemma it currently is in, and it is therefore incumbent upon us as Members of Congress to step up to the plate and say to the steel industry, we want to save you; we are going to do two, three or four things to help you get on the right track. This bill is one of the things that we can do to get the steel industry on the right track, and, in addition, to support those workers who built the World Trade Center, those workers who built all of the buildings that cross this country.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of educational and health care rights for the women and children of Afghanistan. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the current health and human rights status of women in Afghanistan suggests that the combined effects of war-related trauma and human rights abuses by Taliban officials have had a profound effect on Afghan women's health. Moreover, support for women's human rights by Afghan women suggests that Taliban policies regarding women are incommensurate with the interests, needs, and health of Afghan women. Before the Taliban regime took power, Afghan women were protected by law, had important freedoms and were active participants in society. In 1977, women comprised more than 15 percent of Afghanistan's highest legislative body. By the early 1990s women comprised 70 percent of schoolteachers. Women made up 50 percent of government workers. Forty percent of doctors in Kabul were women. Then came the Taliban and their destruction of the family. For nearly 20 years, life in Afghanistan has been degraded by foreign and civil wars, but, since 1994, the regime of the Taliban militias has, by decree, officially taken away from women all rights to education, to work, and to health. Denial of freedom of movement renders Afghan women practically prisoners in their own homes, in the most extreme situation of material and moral destitution. Until 1996, Afghan women were an integral part of society, they worked outside the home, they went to school, and chose their own doctor. Women constituted 50 percent of the student body in the universities, 60 percent of the civil servants, 75 percent of the hospitals workforce, a majority of teachers for boys' and girls' schools, and had businesses of their own. In the city of Kabul alone, there were around 17,000 women teachers. The 1964 and 1977 Constitutions of Afghanistan provided for gender equality and women were fully vested in the political process including the right to vote and get elected. Many women also wore either a chadari or scarf on a voluntary basis. A child, who was born 12 or 13 years ago, is a young adult now. He was five years old when his father was killed, he was seven years old when his mother was raped and tortured in front of him, and he was only ten years old when his house was burned down to the ground. And now, he lives in a plastic tent with no place to go and, no one to turn to. The psychological impact of the past twenty years shall leave an immutable scar in over one million orphans' memories, unless they receive help now. Two generations of Afghans know only war, deprivation, homelessness, hunger, suffering, and loss, and their futures seem bleak in a world that has largely forgotten them. In addition, there are estimated to be between 10 and 15 million land mines scattered in the landscape, exploding and injuring at a rate of 20 to 25 per day. They kill or injure predominantly children who are sometimes victims of mines disguised as toys. One out of four Afghan children dies before the age of five. Over one million Afghan children are orphans. Over 500,000 are disabled. Over 400,000 children are amputees, because of land mines. Over one million Afghan children are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. History has demonstrated that supremacist and totalitarian regimes such as the Taliban militias maintained themselves in power only if the rest of the world remains silent. Human rights are founded on principles that all members of the human family are equal in dignity and rights. However, where discrimination against women and children exists, they are often excluded from effective participation in identifying and securing their rights. In recent years, some have argued that health, defined as ``a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,'' requires the protection and promotion of human rights. In Afghanistan, Taliban restrictions on Afghan women and children's freedom of expression, association, and movement deny women full participation in society and, consequently, from effectively securing equal opportunities for work, education, and access to health care. I rise today to reiterate my support for the women and children of Afghanistan. Exclusion of women from employment, and women and children from education, jeopardizes their capacity to survive and participate in society. In my opinion, the health and human rights concerns of Afghan women and children are identified and the promotion of Afghan women and children's health is inseparable from the protection and promotion of human rights.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the other members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I give my personal thanks. Earlier when we debated this bill, I spoke of the fact that I have a niece who is a flight attendant for United Airlines. My father worked for United for 38 years. My sister works for United. My brother-in-law works for United. My airline family is personally thankful for the opportunity to be able to say that they are secure in their jobs. To all the other families of airline employees across this country, I know they are feeling as good as I am. My thanks to the committee and my colleagues, because only through the work that we do to secure the workers can we secure the passengers.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for the past year I have worked with my distinguished colleague from Ohio, Representative Steven LaTourette in support of a very exciting education initiative at the Great Lakes Science Center (GSLC) in Cleveland, Ohio. Last year, we placed report language in the FY 2001 Commerce Justice State appropriations bill encouraging NOAA and the Federal Maritime Administration of USDOT to work with the Great Lakes Science Center in support of an initiative to develop an Underwater Simulator capturing the environment of the Great Lakes. The GLSC is only five years old and has already served 3 million visitors including well over 600,000 through educational programs. It has hosted the world's annual conference of science museums. Its educational programs of school tours, summer programs, and ``hands-on'' science exhibits have been a source of inspiration and learning to children and adults throughout our region. The proposed Underwater Simulator would not only recreate an underwater experience modeled on the Great Lakes, but would contain inter-active programs capable of teaching mapping, navigation and scientific exploration. This would be an extremely exciting experience, capable of accommodating 15-20 visitors at one time. The State of Ohio has already supplied initial funding for the development of the Simulator and the Science is also prepared to share costs. Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that despite the active efforts of our offices, the modest cost involved each agency would be asked to contribute and last year's report language, both NOAA and the Maritime Administration demonstrated no serious interest in assisting this project. Mr. President, I am serving notice to both agencies that I will continue to work with my colleagues in an effort that these two agencies work with us to develop this Simulator project. This is a project of great potential significance for the entire Great Lakes region and to the entire nation. NOAA and MARAD should both understand that we intend to aggressively continue our efforts in FY 2002.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Muslims, Sikhs or persons of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. As you know, since September 11, there have been numerous reports of violent assaults, harassment, and threats against men, women and children targeted solely because of their religious beliefs, ethnicity or nationality. An urgent, vigorous response is required to stop these shameful crimes. State governments and local police need the tools to fight and prosecute these crimes. H.R. 1343, The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001 gives the State and local authorities the tools and federal assistance they need. We must elevate the status of hate crimes within federal law to ensure that the punishment fits the seriousness of the crime committed. Significant gaps still exist in protecting all Americans from hate- motivated crimes. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) would strengthen existing hate crime law in two primary ways: first, it would extend the protection of hate crimes law to those who are victimized because of their gender, sexual orientation or disability; second, it would remove unnecessary judicial impediments to prosecuting hate-based violence. Monitoring groups, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, have received several hundred complaints alleging retaliatory attacks against Muslims, Arab Americans, South Asians and others. A shooting rampage in Mesa, Arizona, left one Sikh man dead, with additional shots fired at a Lebanese clerk and the home of an Afghan family. An Egyptian-American grocer was shot and killed near his store in San Gabriel, California, and a storeowner from Pakistan was shot dead in Dallas, Texas. Beatings and other violent assaults were reported across the country, as were death and bomb threats. At several U.S. universities, foreign students from the Middle East and South Asia have been targeted for attacks, and some have chosen to leave the country because they feared additional attacks. Mosques and Sikh temples have been shot at, vandalized, and defaced. A man in Parma, Ohio drove his car into a Mosque. Throughout the country affected, community members have been afraid to leave their homes, go to work or wear traditional clothing for fear of possible hate crimes against them. The horrific terrorist attacks of September 11 have forced the people of the US to confront a number of terribly difficult decisions: Should the US respond to the assaults with its own attack, or should we refuse to fight violence with violence? How should the nation balance its desire for freedom with its need for security? And how can we best maintain our commitment to diversity and tolerance and not let scapegoating tear the nation apart? I rise today to reiterate my support for the H.R. 1343, The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001. I urge people around the United States to reaffirm their commitment to peace, justice, and tolerance during this traumatic time. Retaliation will offer no consolation. The architects of the September 11 attacks must be apprehended and brought to justice in full compliance. And persons who commit hate crimes must be apprehended and brought to justice as well.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) again for coming into my congressional district very recently to be of assistance to me and to my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 228, a bill to expedite services and benefits to children who lost parents or a guardian during the September 11 attacks. In my former life, I served as the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. One of the things I learned in that capacity was the fact that children who witness violence are often more harmed than the children who are actually within the violent situation. It is so important that our colleagues today act on behalf of those children. They have lost parents, they have lost guardians, and they have witnessed, day after day, month after month, week after week, a repetition of that violence: by seeing it on TV; through the description of the World Trade Center towers; by listening to people talk about terrorism; by being engulfed with all that has gone on in our country. It is our obligation as Members of Congress to step up to the plate and support those young people. Without our support and encouragement, that in fact would not happen. The fact that in our country we have not given parity to mental health even makes this issue of greater importance. You think about the health care benefits that many of these children might well not have as a result of their parents or guardians being out of work; in fact, it may not give them adequate coverage to be able to receive the type of mental health care that they are entitled to under the circumstances. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution, to provide the educational services that are necessary for these young people, to be able to continue their lives and be useful citizens in our country, the assistance for adoption and foster care. We have talked about this over and over again on the floor of the House, the importance of having a strong family around young people to help them grow and to build, to help provide support for them, even through adoption or through foster care. I am confident that there are many parents and many families out here who would love to take in an additional child, but financial situations may not allow them to do so. For us to be able to encourage these families to take on more children, to be supportive, to provide guidance, I often say to people when we talk to them, my son Mervyn is 18, and I used to tell him all the time there were times when I thought I wanted to be his friend, but he needed a parent more than he needed a friend. These people in fact need parents who will stand up and teach them the right way and help them work through this whole loss that they have had. So I am pleased to rise with my colleagues in support of this resolution, and would encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of it. I thank the gentlewoman from the State of Texas for her hard work and other Members who have worked on this resolution.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, the record would reflect that I would have voted: On Roll 426, H.R. 768, On Motion to Suspend the Rule and Agree to Senate Amendments, Need-Based Educational Aid Act, ``yea.'' On Roll 427, H.R. 1408, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Financial Services Antifraud Network Act, ``yea.'' On Roll 428, S. 1447, On Motion to Instruct Conferees, Aviation Security Act, ``yea.'' Had I been present on Wednesday, November 7, 2001, the record would reflect that I would have voted: On Roll 429, H.R. 2998, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Radio Free Afghanistan Act, ``yea.'' On Roll 430, H.R. 852, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, Nathaniel R. Jones and Frank J. Battisti Federal Building and United States Courthouse Act, ``yea.'' On Roll 431, H.R. 3167, Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act, ``yea.'' On Roll 432, H. Con. Res. 262, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Negotiations to Be Held at Doha, Qatar, ``yea.'' I was unable to return to Congress on November 6th and 7th due to pressing matters in my district.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to stand in support of H.R. 852, which names the Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Youngstown, Ohio after my dear friend Judge Nathaniel R. Jones and the late Judge Frank Battisti. No two men are worthier of this recognition. It is particularly significant that this courthouse is being named after these two wonderful sons of Youngstown who have done so much for their community and for our nation. It is my understanding that this is the first time anywhere in the country that the names of two people of different races have been joined together to name a federal building. How fitting this is. Judge Battisti devoted his life--often at great cost--to reaching across the racial divide and to removing those divides altogether. Judge Jones has committed himself to securing justice for all and healing a divided nation. I am so pleased that these two men will be honored together in this way. This bill has particular meaning to me, professionally and personally. I first came to know both Judge Jones and Judge Battisti through their involvement in the landmark school desegregation case in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Judge Battisti showed great courage in his rulings and his willingness to force the overhaul of an illegally segregated school system, not a popular thing to do at the time. And Judge Jones' commitment to the law for the highest purposes earned my admiration long before I knew him personally. Over the years, I have come to know this thoughtful, generous and humble man and am proud to say that he is my mentor and friend. He's also the father of my Chief of Staff Stephanie J. Jones. Judge Jones and I often joke about the unlikely coincidence of Stephanie and I sharing the same name. In fact, he now refers to me as his ``other daughter,'' as honorary title I'm proud to hold. Judge Jones has traveled the world, counseled Presidents, walked with great leaders, earned the respect of all who know him and achieved great renown. Yet he has never forgotten his roots and the lessons he learned at his mother's knee. He has always lived by the simple admonition he learned in Sunday School--``brighten the corner where you are.'' I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Jones' mother, Lillian Brown Jones Rafe not long before she died and, through her, came to appreciate even more the son she called her ``keen-eyed child.'' This great-grandson of slaves, whose parents moved from the rural south to Youngstown, Ohio seeking opportunities for their children, has risen to heights even a proud mother never imagined, but has never forgotten his roots. Through it all, he remains a child of Youngstown. It is appropriate that less than two miles away from the street on which he was born, along the route his weary but determined mother walked selling household products and newspaper subscriptions to support her family during the Depression, up the street from the movie theater his father cleaned at night, on a site where he played as a boy, near the small office in which he once toiled as editor of the Buckeye Review newspaper, down the hill from Youngstown University, where he earned his bachelor and law degrees (and fought for equal rights for all students), across the square from the small building that housed his first law office, a few miles from his beloved parents gravesite, will stand a United States Courthouse engraved with the name of Nathaniel R. Jones. It is truly an honor and a pleasure for me to stand in support of this bill honoring my friend Judge Nathaniel Jones and the late Judge Frank Battisti. This Courthouse, like the remarkable men for which it is named, will brighten its corner, where it will long stand as a reminder and beacon to all who desire and work for justice, equality and mercy.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and his colleague for offering the Senate bill. I rise in support of it. Unlike some of my colleagues, I have overseen more than 300 employees and many of them were law enforcement officers. Unlike many of my colleagues, my father worked for the airlines, my sister works for the airlines, my niece works for the airlines, my brother-in-law works for the airlines; and this bill is very important to my family and the American public. I rise because I believe that airline security must be an honorable position, just like police officers, just like fire marshals, just like everyone else who does a law enforcement job. Let us elevate them to the level of honor that they deserve so that the American people will believe that their safety is covered. Let us elevate them to the position of a Federal employee doing a law enforcement job with law enforcement equipment and honored by this Nation's public. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the legislation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I called him up and said, ``Dad, turn it on. I am talking about you tonight.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to thank my colleague the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), and I see seated here with me also the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the federalization of airline security personnel. Yesterday in the City of Cleveland, I joined with many other unions who represent the workers at the airport in support of airline security and a safety net for the workers of the airlines. I have a personal interest in this in light of the fact that my father, Andrew Tubbs, worked for United Airlines some 38 years as a sky cap. My sister, Mattie Still, worked for United Airlines some 30 years as a CTR operator. My brother-in-law, Robert Still, worked as a sky cap in California for some 30 years. And currently my niece, Lorri Still, is a flight attendant with United Airlines. So the workers of the airlines industry are very, very important and personal to me. Yesterday, in the City of Cleveland we stood and said to the Congress, hurry up. Time is a-wasting. We need to enact legislation that will federalize the airline security personnel. We need to elevate the position of airline security to the level of those of law enforcement, to the firefighters, to the Cleveland police officers, police officers across this country, to the Federal marshals, to the Capitol Hill police. That way they will get the type of training and professionalism that they need in the job. I want to say to the American public, get back on the airplanes like we are required to do. I want to say, have trust in what happens. But until we federalize airline security, that in fact is not going to happen. I heard others say that they are worried about people joining unions. I wish my father had had a union. He used to tell me stories about the skycaps: no unions, no dollars for health care, no dollars for sick leave. And what they used to do, these guys used to pass the hat, so when they got tips on any evening, they used to divide those tips up among the folks that were there and put money in for those who were not there, so that those guys still had tips, as though they were working every day. Why should workers have to do that? The company should provide that type of security. Why should we think that this job is any less honorable than any other job? As I go back through the airport every weekend into the city of Cleveland, those skycaps walk up and say, ``Stephanie, are you trying to get money for me?'' The people working at the desk say, ``Stephanie, are you trying to get money for us? Are you trying to secure and make sure the jobs we do on a daily basis are secure?'' I have friends, and I think about these guys. My father is 81 years old, and I think about all the guys that used to work with him who are still around and they say, ``What a great group of men we had.'' So if skycaps right now make $2.88 an hour, imagine what they made back in the 1940s per hour to work and do the job. So I am just standing here with my colleagues, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee), the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), and all of us who believe in the importance of airline security, that it is time out to the Congress. Step up to the plate. Say to the American public that we are going to secure you. We are going to make sure when you get on that plane, things are safe. Maybe even in the legislation that we pass, we will require that every piece of luggage that gets on a plane has been screened in some fashion. But if we can elevate the position of airline security to an honorable position, a professional position, all of us will be better off. I am so happy to join the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee) and all of the Members this evening as we talk about this important issue that is important to the security and safety of all of us here in the United States and those traveling through the United States.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Committee on Rules for an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy that the American public is smarter than many people think that they are. I am so happy that the American public understands that when the airlines got paid, the workers did not get paid, and we are still waiting for the workers to get paid. I am so happy that the American public understands that we still have not put any more security into the airline situation, and we are flying without greater security. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy that the American public understands that if we are talking about saving industries, why is the steel industry not in the bill for economic stimulus? I am happy that the American public understands that 26 steel companies are in bankruptcy currently, and there is no provision. Talk about saving jobs, what about the steelworkers who built this country. Think about it like this. In fact, there are steel companies that are in bankruptcy, and maybe in the United States we will not even be able to use the steel that is processed in the United States to rebuild our country. I am happy the American public understands.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I would like to thank the co-chair of the Women's Caucus, my good friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), for all the work that we do in the Women's Caucus. It is a difficult task leading a caucus, and I want to commend her on the work that we do as we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I dedicate my comments this evening to four living women who have survived breast cancer: Gwen Chapman, Bobbi Butts, Jacqui Royster, and Marion Brown, and to one who did not survive breast cancer, in memory of Debbie Smith. Let me tell my colleagues a little bit about Debbie Smith. She and I were assistant prosecutors together; and we shared an office. And the sign outside the office said Smith and Jones, and no one ever believed that it was the truth that our names were Smith and Jones. I dedicate my words this evening on behalf of all of these strong and dedicated women. I can only think of the great times I have had when we have done the Race for the Cure. It was a shame that this year unfortunately, as a result of the acts of September 11, that the Race for the Cure was cancelled in my city, the city of Cleveland. I was able for the past 3 years to sponsor a group of young women called Teen Lift. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and part of the responsibility in being part of Teen Lift was to do a community awareness week or activity. And one of the activities was I used to pay the registration, give them T-shirts; and we would do the Race for the Cure each year. I also want to talk about the numerous groups in my city who are involved in breast cancer. There is one organization dedicated specifically to minority women, to bring the awareness about breast cancer to the attention of many, many people. I am also proud to be able to stand up and say that 2 weeks ago I had my mammogram. I had been messing around, not doing it, telling everybody get a mammogram, and I was not doing it myself. So I am very proud to be able to say that I took care of that a couple of weeks ago. Finally, I would like to also talk about one other issue as we are talking about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have legislation pending with regard to uterine fibroid cancer research, another illness that is prevalent among women, but particularly among minority women. It is the highest cause of hysterectomies among women across this country. We need to kick up the information to women about uterine fibroid research and the dilemma it causes women, so women will know about it and less women will have to have hysterectomies. Again, I am proud and happy that we have the opportunity to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I will be even prouder at the point that we do not have to celebrate it because we will have found a cure.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the women in Afghanistan. Today in Afghanistan, a woman's basic right to vote, to pursue an education, and to join the job force, is threatened. The Taliban's insistence on secluding women from public life is a political maneuver disguised as ``Islamic'' law. Before seizing power, the Taliban manipulated and used the rights of women as tools to gain control of the country. To secure financial and political support, the Taliban emulated authoritarian methods typical of many Middle Eastern countries. The Taliban's stand on the seclusion of women is not derived from Islam, but, rather, from a cultural bias found in suppressive movements throughout the region. Three and a half million Afghan refugees are fighting to survive in bordering countries, and the number has been increasing every day since the U.S. vowed retaliation for the September 11 attacks. Afghan women who fled the ruling Taliban's oppressive regime comprise more than 70 percent of those in refugee camps; many are already starving. Before 1996, women were 70 percent of the school teachers, 40 percent of the doctors, 50 percent of government workers and 50 percent of the college students in Afghanistan. They were scientists, professors, members of parliament and university professors. Since then, the women and girls of Afghanistan have suffered horribly under the Taliban's rule, forbidden to work or attend school, prohibited from going outside without a close male relative and cut off from health care. Violations of these and other strict rules have resulted in beatings, torture and public executions. The women and girls who escape these sub-human conditions must not be allowed to starve in refugee camps. Expansion of the U.S. humanitarian aid package and its proper distribution will help ensure that this will not happen. Today, the treatment of women in Afghanistan is receiving much international attention. The Taliban's discriminatory gender policies have been heavily criticized by outside governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Whilst the Taliban's response has been to vigorously defend their position, the opposition alliance fighting the Taliban in the northeast have sought to portray themselves as defenders of women's rights, although whether this is anything more than an opportunistic attempt to garner international support remains to be seen. They themselves have committed human rights abuses. This pattern of using the status of women to accrue political advantage must be broken. If the aims of peace and development are ever to be realized in Afghanistan, then women's fundamental human rights must be respected. It is now recognized the world over that progress, social justice, the eradication of poverty, sustained economic growth, and social development all critically depend on the full participation of women on the basis of equality in all spheres of society. As agreed by the governments participating in the Fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, local, national, regional and global peace is attainable and is inextricably linked to the advancement of women. In the Platform for Action, world governments pledged to take all necessary measures to prevent and eliminate violence and discrimination against women, which are major obstacles to the advancement and empowerment of women. I rise today to reiterate my support for the women of Afghanistan. It is obligatory that the unalienable rights of these women be restored; an increase in humanitarian aid must be implemented for Afghan women and children; and Afghan women should play a leadership role in rebuilding the country.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on Tuesday, October 2, 2001, the record would reflect that I would have voted: On Roll 360, HR 169, On Motion to Suspend the Rule and Pass, as Amended, the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act, Yea. On Roll 361, HJ Res 42, On Motion to Suspend the Rule and Pass, as Amended, the measure Memorializing fallen firefighters by lowering the American flag to half-staff in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emittsburg, Maryland, Yea. On Roll 362, HR 2904, On Motion To Instruct Conferees, Yea. I was unable to return to Congress on October 2 due to pressing matters in my district.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time. In fact, we are talking about security for the people who ride on the planes and security as well for the workers who have been working for the airline industry for the past years. It is not much to ask to provide them some health care for 18 months. We have given the industry dollars, or we are giving the industry dollars to continue. It is not a lot to ask for security for the fliers and riders on the airplanes who are entrusting their lives and their families to the airline industry. I ask my colleagues to vote with us on this motion to recommit. I ask them to vote for health care insurance for the workers. Vote for security for the fliers. Put it in the hands of the FAA.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I support victims compensation. I support the airline industry. But crisis is no excuse for a stampede. The wagons have been circled around the industry but not around the people who make it work. Crisis is no excuse for unjust compensation for the airlines. Crisis is no excuse to deny the workers the protection they need now. My father was a sky cap, my sister works in the airport, my niece is a flight attendant, my brother-in-law is a sky cap. I come from a family of workers for airlines. They need protection like the airlines. Let us step up to the plate, my colleagues, and protect the workers too. As last week's tragedy continues to unfold, we, as Members of Congress are constantly challenged to find solutions to very complex issues. I believe that our American resolve and faith in God will bring this nation through these tough times. As a member of the Financial Services and Small Business Committees, I am compelled to speak because I realize the devastating effects this tragedy and its subsequent economic downturn has had on both our financial markets, insurance industry and small business. Companies are doing less--and in some cases no--business, workers are being laid-off and insurance claims are staggering. We must work together and hold to our resolve of building America back up. We are all doing our part to make sure this happens. We have put aside party differences and political wrangling and come together because we all know that, when it comes down to it, we are all one people. But we can't let this spirit of togetherness cause us to run blindly forward into actions that, while they may seem reasonable in the heat of our desperation to deal with this problem, will result in serious consequences in the long run. That is why I am speaking out against this bill. I stand today as a supporter of congressional funding and other legislative efforts that restore stability to this nation and particularly, our financial markets, that are the envy of the world. With that, I wholeheartedly supported the $40 billion supplemental appropriation for military support and clean-up efforts stemming from last week's tragedy. Our concerns, sadly enough, do not end there. Our financial markets, as well, face decline and other challenges to recovery. Today, we deal with an airline industry crisis. The airline industry facing staggering losses may face bankruptcy as a result. It was reported that during our national tragedy, when airplanes were grounded, the airline industry lost about $330 million a day for each day that flights were grounded. No industry can recover from losses of that magnitude overnight. I support our airline industry. I support direct aid of $5 billion to the airlines. I also support $10 billion in loan guarantees that assists large as well as small airline carriers that works to ensure the financial solvency of our airline industry and other affiliated jobs. However, I am troubled about some aspects of this bill. First, in our efforts to stabilize the airline industry, we cannot forget workers. We cannot overlook thousands of dislocated skycaps, attendants, pilots, food service workers, maintenance workers and all of those other men and women employed in the airline service sector, who will receive absolutely nothing from this bill. We cannot simply save the plane and leave the people behind. Second, liability protection. I cannot support a liability protection regime that is overly broad. To have the government as well the airline and insurance companies cover liability, could leave the government as the insurer of last resort. This aspect of the bill is too broad and overly complex. Third negligence and damages. I am also concerned that this bill fails to consider any amounts for punitive damages and also reduces compensation if there is any collateral source compensation. While I support the stabilization of the airline industry, on one hand, I cannot remove all liability from the industry on the other. In addition, this bill caps air carriers' liability to limits of their coverage and reduces victims' families should they have supplemental coverage. It is paradoxical to fully support the airlines while reducing support for survivors who need to resume their lives. I cannot in good conscience support such a measure. Lastly, security. This bill does not address the issue of increased security that must be employed by the airline industry. With a tragedy of this magnitude, we cannot sweep the issue of security under the rug. The airline industry must make operational changes in security at our nation's airports in order to thwart future terrorist activities. In conclusion, I support the stabilization of the airline industry with direct aid and loan guarantees. Our airline industry serves as a major cog of our economic engine and also

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am angry, as I am sure most Americans are. And words cannot express our anger. But I have an 18- year-old son named Mervyn. And I always tell Mervyn, ``Mervyn, anger is the ill wind that blows out the light of reason.'' I stand firmly in support of the United States, the United States Constitution, our President and this Congress. I just trust that we will be as deliberate as they were, as precise as they were, but we must not let our anger blow out our light of reason.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, for everything there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to embrace and a time to refrain; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. After the atrocities of yesterday, we, the American people, asked the question: What time is it? This is a time for prayer. This is a time to mourn the loss of life. This is a time to weep because crying eases the pain. This is a time to appreciate and honor those countless, nameless men and women, firefighters, rescue workers, volunteers and others who have risked and lost their lives trying to help their fellow Americans. This is time to embrace one another and to express our feelings of love. This is a time to mend broken hearts of the people of our Nation who have experienced the loss of a family member. This is a time to speak of the strength of our Nation and to let the world know that we resolve that to never allow any terrorists to think for one moment that they can, by their conduct, permanently disrupt our democracy. This is a time to ferret out the persons who have committed these acts of terrorism and to hold them accountable. In time we will emerge from this stronger, wiser and more compassionate. In time we will find our way. In time we will again laugh, share good times, and take pleasure in our family, friends and favorite pursuits. Mr. Speaker, in times like this, I call upon my faith and say, ``Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, President George W. Bush unveiled his principles for Medicare reform on July 12, 2001; and Whereas, under the program, Medicare beneficiaries would be able to purchase Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount cards with access to lower cost drugs at the point of sale; and Whereas, the Program was conceived by a select group of pharmacy benefit management companies without the deliberation of the larger pharmacy community; and Whereas, Community pharmacies will bear the greatest financial burden for this Program to discount prescription drugs; and Whereas, drug manufactures account for nearly 80% of the cost of prescription drugs sold in the U.S. but will bear very little of the financial burden created by this Program; and Whereas, The Program does not provide seniors with access to prescription drugs or the pharmacist's professional services; and Whereas, seniors take more prescription drugs than any other population group in the U.S. and need the accessibility and expertise of their community pharmacist; and Whereas, peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that discount programs have been proven not to be effective; and Whereas, The Program is not insurance coverage nor will it provide drug coverage to those millions of seniors who cannot currently afford even inexpensive prescription drugs; and Whereas, the Program promotes the under utilization of generic drugs, heavy use of mail order, and limits senior citizens to the option of only one drug per therapeutic class; Therefore be it resolved, that the National Pharmaceutical Association representing all of America's minority pharmacists at its House of Delegates assembly during the 54h Annual Meeting July 20-24, 2001 in Cleveland, Ohio joins other national pharmacy associations in opposing the Prescription Drug Discount Card program as presently composed and urges the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to immediately revisit this flawed and potentially unconstitutional Program; and Be it further resolved, that the Secretary of HHS appoint a blue ribbon committee consisting of all facets of the national pharmacy community to study this issue and make recommendations to solve America's pressing issue of prescription drug coverage for those Americans over the age of 65; and finally Be it resolved that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the President, Secretary of HHS, Administrator of CMMS, and all the national pharmacy organizations.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I congratulate my colleague for bringing to the Nation this Special Order with regard to the budget and the dilemma that we find ourselves in this evening. The gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) has been in the forefront of working on these issues and making the public aware, and I am happy to join him. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is facing a serious shortfall in the budget. This is because the Congress and the President have chosen short-term reward over the long-term benefit of paying down the debt and protecting Social Security and Medicare. There are colleagues of mine in the Congress who have not joined in this and have fought against the tax cut and against the proposed budget. But the majority of Congress unfortunately went along with the President on that tax cut, and we are all paying for that today. Since February 7, 2001, I have been on record stressing the importance of protecting retirement security and enacting a prescription drug benefit. I want all Americans to see every penny they earn working for them. Social Security is our system to protect retirement benefits for older people. Medicare provides seniors with health benefits. What could be a better use of our surplus than long-term security? If Americans could be guaranteed to pay $300 or even $600 and not have to worry about their retirement savings or health benefits from now to one's last years, Americans would do it. Many poorer Americans are told they need that $300 check, but that money is nothing if Members think about the benefits that could be accrued if we collectively joined our money into a pool that would, in fact, fund a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Thanks to the administration, we are all getting our refund checks now, and maybe some of us are able to put more money to our credit card debt, buy a little something for our homes or a luxury like a new pair of shoes. Then what? Can Americans take a prescription out of a bag of shoes? Can Americans take a prescription out of a luxury car? I think not. Thanks to the President's refund and the state of our economy, the government is facing financial shortfalls. Instead of operating in a surplus and each party claiming credit, we are blaming one another for a deficit. The other party's leaders choose to ignore the advice of economists forecasting a shrinking surplus, and all indications are that the economy has begun to slow. The surplus was once expected to be about $125 billion. The Congressional Budget Office is estimating the present surplus is nearly zero. Things have changed over the last 3 months. The White House is spinning blame to the Congress, but it is unwilling to accept the fact that the President's tax cut has eaten up the surplus. Just like an 800-pound gorilla would go at a banana, it is all gone. I join the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) and Senate Democrats in urging the President to resubmit a budget. America needs a budget reflecting the current downturn in the economy and the lack of a surplus. Yesterday I held a prescription drug forum in my district with my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) who serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Together we discussed the issues of prescription drugs from their availability to the over-prescribing by many physicians and ways to make them more affordable, as well as potential legislation to correct the problem of exorbitantly high drug prices. The event was highly informative, and I encourage my colleagues throughout the country to hold a similar event. I had more than 250 seniors gathered at the Jewish Community Center to talk about the issue of prescription drugs. I will continue to hold events to allow seniors in my district to air their grievances and help formulate answers on this issue. The money that the President's tax cut will take out of the budget surplus affects these seniors. They are seeking a prescription drug benefit, seeking help to make ends meet and still be able to afford their medication. The Bush budget not only does not allot money for Social Security, but takes their Social Security and Medicare money away. They do not need $300 to spend. This will not buy more than one prescription in many instances, because drugs for senior citizens are very expensive, and they are not able to afford them once they are placed on that prescription. The tax cut is like a classic Trojan horse. The President is trying to convince us that he has delivered a lovely gift to the American people. But once inside the gate, this gift will prove to merely camouflage far more sinister designs: windfalls for the wealthy and a return to the bad days of deficits and inadequate funding. How many employers of a business would award job bonuses to employees for the next 10 years in a row in advance, based on projected business income? We all know that is not good business sense. We tried this before, this whole thing about trickle-down economics. Remember the promise: If we give money back, the money will trickle-down to the most in need. Remember what happened: We found out that the poor got poorer and the rich got richer. I just say to the American public that are listening this evening, we are pushing this President to reconsider the budget which has been submitted. The people who are most in need of help from a governmental budget are our seniors who have paid their taxes, who have worked very long and are being forced to spend their personal dollars down to nothing in order to get a governmental benefit. I call upon my colleagues and the rest of this Congress and the Senate to do what is best and what is important, and I call upon this President who kept talking about throughout his campaign that he was going to help those most in need, to do what is right, resubmit this budget, put in a prescription drug benefit and make our seniors know that we love them, want to support them and encourage them. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) for the opportunity to be heard.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, as we sit here debating a Patients' Bill of Rights, we stopped talking about the patients' rights and started reading letters from the AMA saying, well, I do not want the doctors to be any more liable, the HMOs, so we are happy with the legislation. I would suggest to those of my colleagues on the floor of this House, walk a mile in the shoes of someone who has been injured, walk a mile in the shoes of a family member who has a child that has been maimed or blinded, and you will not be talking about limits, you will be talking about, let me get to court and establish my damages, and if I establish them, pay me; and if they have been negligent or extremely negligent, let me get punitive damages. Let us get realistic, I say to my colleagues. We as significant Members of Congress can pass legislation that will not be questionable, that will not be left to a court to interpret. We can make it clear to the people of these United States that we are going to stand up for patients' rights, that we are going to stand up and allow them to collect if they are damaged.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Norwood amendment. It is very easy to speak in a vacuum about the impact that legislation has on the Federal level in State courts. But the reality is, with the lack of time dedicated to this particular legislation, we do not really know what in heck it will have. In fact, we worry, and I am sure the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) worries as well, that people's ability to bring claims in State courts have been, in fact, affected by this legislation. Many of my colleagues may have had the opportunity to think about what happens in a courtroom, but I served in a courtroom for 10 years. One of the dilemmas about having legislation that is passed and saying in the State court, this is the impact we think it is going to have, is that it will ultimately take someone's case to work its way through the State court, through the appellate court, and then to the Supreme Court to resolve it. So why, when we are people of good sense, can we not resolve it right here and understand and put in place legislation that will not have that type of impact? Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this legislation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on Tuesday, July 31, 2001, the record would reflect that I would have voted: On rollcall No. 297, H.R. 2620, Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations for 2002, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 298, H.R. 2647, Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 2002, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 299, on approving the Journal, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 300, H. Res. 214, on agreeing to the resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 2505; Human Cloning Prohibition Act, ``nay''. On rollcall No. 301, H.R. 2540, on motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, Veterans Benefits Act, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 302, H.R. 2505, on agreeing to the amendment, Greenwood of Pennsylvania substitute amendment, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 303, H.R. 2505, on motion to recommit with instructions, Human Cloning Prohibition Act, ``yea''. On rollcall No. 304, H.R. 2505, on passage, Human Cloning Prohibition Act, ``nay''. On rollcall No. 305, H.R. 1140, on motion to suspend the rules and pass, amended, Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act, ``yea''.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I submit for following for the Record in support of the amendment offered by the gentlewoman of Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cleveland, OH, July 30, 2001. RE: Public Housing Drug Elimination Grant (PHDEP) Update Hon. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, House of Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Tubbs Jones: I am writing to follow-up on our conversation last week about the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program (PHDEP), and to update you on CMHA's implementation of PHDEP grants since 1996. The following table will provide you with a year-by-year breakdown of the amounts we received, expended and the time frame for the grants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Expanded as Year Grant amount of 6/30/01 % Spent Grant date End date ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2001 2,707,766 ............ ....... ............ ............ 2000 2,550,794 168,575 6.6 11/14/2000 11/13/2002 1999 2,447,497 1,553,460 63.5 1/24/2000 1/23/2002 1998 2,756,000 2,745,236 99.6 12/22/1998 12/21/2000 1997 2,777,840 2,777,840 100 12/19/1997 12/20/1999 1996 2,832,250 2,832,250 100 11/19/1996 \*\5/19/1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \*\Not yet awarded by HUD. \*\Included six-month extension. By contrast, HUD allows housing authorities two years to expend PHDEP funds from the date the grant agreement is signed by HUD. With only two exceptions CMHA has expended all PHDEP grant funds during the contract period. Once we received a six-month extension from HUD to fully expend the 1996 PHDEP grant, and once CMHA returned $10,764 (0.4%) of unexpended funds from the 1998 PHDEP grant. Presently, we are on schedule to fully expend the 1999 and 200 PHDEP grants, and HUD has not yet executed a grant agreement for the 2001 PHDEP funds. As you can see from this matrix, CMHA has not allowed funds to go unused, and is, as well as has been in compliance with HUD requirements. As we have previously discussed, PHDEP funding is essential to CMHA safety efforts and social service programming, and as a reminder, the loss of $2.7 million in PHDEP funding could eliminate CMHA support of the following programs: CMHA Police Activities League (PAL), which provides after school athletic programs for more than 700 youth from ages 5-18 annually. Boys and Girls Clubs located at four CMHA estates, which provide safe havens for almost 500 children annually to find fun and recreation. Several self-sufficiency programs, which have provided employment opportunities for 100 adults annually through job readiness, job training and entrepreneurial programs. Adult Outpatient Substance Abuse programs, which have provided services to over 600 residents annually. Teen Outpatients Prevention/Treatment programs, which serve more than 900 youth annually. CMHA Police Department's Community Policing and Narcotics/ Gangs Units, which employ 24 Police Officers, who are instrumental to CMHA's overall crime prevention efforts. We have heard that the House mark-up of the FY 2002 Appropriations Bill would eliminate the PHDEP program, and increase the Operating Fund by $114 million to $3.505 billion to help make up the difference. Given that public housing industry estimates indicate that at least $3.5 billion is needed to fully fund the Operating Fund, especially with increasing energy costs, this proposed budget still virtually eliminates $310 million of PHDEP funding available to housing authorities. Thank you for understanding how the loss of PHDEP funds would severely affect CMHA and our 15,000 public housing residents. We truly appreciate your continuing efforts to preserve this important funding source, and I hope the information provided in this letter answers any questions you or other members of Congress have expressed. Please call me at 216-348-5911 if you have any questions or require additional information. Sincerely, Terri Hamilton Brown, Executive Director.