Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. My question is will the gentleman yield at some point?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Would the gentleman yield?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to thank my colleague for always being with me and supporting me and the Congressional Black Caucus on issues that we present. Madam Speaker, I would like to begin this evening by paying tribute to one of my she-roes and a pillar of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio and the Cleveland community, Judge Jean Murrell Capers. At 95 years of age, Judge Jean Murrell Capers is still ticking and kicking. Known for her feistiness and zest for life, Judge Capers has been a trailblazer for many black women including myself in the law and politics. A native of Kentucky, Judge Capers moved to Cleveland with her family 88 years ago. She still resides in the family house located in the heart of Cleveland. Judge Capers credits her parents with her success and longevity to the teachings instilled in her by her parents: ``My parents provided my four siblings and me with what we needed, not what we wanted. The two things that impact on the individual are heredity and environment. The most important thing for you is to learn.'' In 1932 Judge Capers began teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools. She went on to receive her law degree from Case Western Reserve University, which she calls the ``Harvard of the Midwest.'' Raised as a devout Presbyterian, Judge Capers says that the Bible and the Constitution are the two books she lives by. Through the teachings of the Bible and her Christian upbringing, she learned the importance of serving the community. That belief led her into politics. Judge Capers began her profession in law and politics in 1945. She was the first black woman in the United States to be elected a city council member and the first to serve as an assistant county prosecutor in Cuyahoga County. Because of her commitment to her community, Judge Capers was appointed by then Governor James Rhodes to serve as a municipal court judge, a position she was elected to once her appointment expired. A member of my great sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Judge Capers has accumulated numerous awards including the Frances Payne Bolton Award presented by the Western Reserve Republican Club and has been inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. The interesting thing about Judge Capers' life is the fact that she was born on the very day that Delta Sigma Theta was founded and in the very same year. So we always call her our representative of Delta Sigma Theta. Widely recognized for her gorgeous hats, Judge Capers continues to be an advocate for all people in the community. She still practices law at the age of 95. I can honestly say there would be no Stephanie Tubbs Jones were it not for Judge Jean Murrell Capers. So tonight I'm pleased to recognize her for her life of service and for all that she does on behalf of candidates throughout the State of Ohio and throughout the United States of America. Tonight she's still actively involved in the presidential elections. Though we're not on the same side, I still love her dearly. Let me go on to talk now about the Urban League's State of Black America Study. Urban League president and CEO Marc Morial states: ``By uplifting black women, especially those struggling hardest to keep their families together and their dreams on track, we lift up every American community.'' I want to applaud the Urban League for having the vision to highlight the issues of black women in this country in this year's report. Oftentimes our issues are overlooked and/or marginalized. I would like to share with you a few excerpts from some of the essays featured in this year's report. This year's essayists do a fantastic job of highlighting the many struggles of black women in America. Black women and the workplace: In her essay ``African American Women and Work: Still a Tale of Two Cities,'' Alexis Herman has this to say regarding the inequality women face in the workplace: ``Over the last 60 years, the labor force participation of women has more than doubled, which means nearly one out of every two workers is a woman. However, this increase in labor force participation was driven largely by non-African American women deciding to work outside their homes. African American women have a long history of working outside of their homes and have the highest labor force participation rate among women, 63.4 percent. Not only are more women working, but more of these working women are mothers as well. Further, one in four married working women earn more than their husbands. However, many African American women are concentrated in low-paying service jobs or staff positions. African American women are 6 percent of the workforce but 14 percent of workers earning between $15,000 and $30,000 per year and are less than 1 percent of workers earning over $100,000 per year. Not only do African American women earn less, the growth in their earnings has lagged behind that of white women, 19 percent and 29 percent respectively. At the upper end of the earnings distribution, disparities in the labor market impact approximately 1 percent of African American women in corporate officer positions whose earnings are on average $229,000 compared to $250,000 for white women.'' Taking the conversation even deeper is Dr. Julianne Malveaux, who in her essay, ``Shouldering the Third Burden: The status of African American Women,'' she states: ``The labor market presents the most striking example of the third burden. Black men and women both experience higher unemployment rates than the general population. However, the unemployment and underemployment of black men shifts a disproportionate economic responsibility onto the shoulders of African American women, who then must support households and children without sufficient contribution from their spouses, partners, or fathers. The failure of public policy to create jobs and access to employment in the wake of urban deindustrialization puts African American men at a particular disadvantage and thereby places the burden of family survival on African American women.'' Another article about black women and the foreclosure crisis is written by Andrea Harris, the president of the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development, and she had this to say about the impact of the foreclosure crisis and its effect on African American women: ``Nearly two-thirds of the wealth possessed by African American families is in the form of home equity. Without homeownership most of these households own very little and have few opportunities to build economic security. Half of all African American households with children are headed by women; therefore, homeownership is an important economic advantage for these families. ``The 1977 Community Reinvestment Act was enacted to abolish redlining, but it created a market for predatory lending. A recent report by the Consumer Federation of America notes that subprime loans have gone disproportionately to women and that African American and Latina women have the highest rates of subprime lending when compared to all other Americans, especially white men who receive the lowest share of subprime loans. Moreover, the disparity increases as income increases. In fact, upper-income African American women are more than five times more likely to receive a subprime mortgage than white men. Since subprime borrowers typically refinance from one subprime loan to another, this translates into projected foreclosures for more than one-third of subprime borrowers. ``Considering that over half of all loans made to black borrowers in 2005 and 2006 were subprime and that African American women accounted for 48.8 percent of all African American subprime borrowers in 2006, it is easy to imagine the devastation that is headed toward black women and their communities. A January, 2008, report issued by United for a Fair Economy says that the subprime mortgage crisis will drain $213 billion in wealth from black Americans, producing for African Americans the greatest wealth loss in modern U.S. history.'' Let's talk about black women's health for a moment. Dr. Doris Browne, president and CEO of Brown & Associates, Inc., had these observations about the impact of health disparities on African American women: ``Particularly striking are disparities in the occurrence of illness and death experienced by African Americans caused by higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, AIDS, and a shorter life expectancy. For instance, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. However, the death rate for heart disease is 20 percent higher for African American women than white women. In addition, cancer is the second leading cause of death among women; yet the 5-year survival rate is 10 percent lower for African American women compared to their white female counterparts. Also, 15 million black women in the United States are afflicted with diabetes, roughly double the number of U.S. white women who are diagnosed with the disease. ``With regard to HIV and AIDS, 61 percent of those under age 25 with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS are African American, and African American women are diagnosed with AIDS at a rate nearly 24 times higher than white women. Black women are more likely to be infected by heterosexual means, sexual contact with men who are HIV positive, compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Possible explanations for these disparities are the complex interaction of biological factors, environment, ethnicity, insurance, and certain health behaviors or life-style choices. Equally important are the effects of socioeconomic factors such as education and income in creating health disparities. For African American women, poverty, race, and ethnicity play a significant role in lower health quality and health outcomes. ``Overcoming persistent health disparities and promoting healthy behaviors for African Americans is a formidable health challenge. African American women must devote more time to care for their own health needs because health education, awareness, and screening are essential in preventing and controlling chronic diseases in women.'' All of these points that have been made in this wonderful publication by the Urban League point to issues that predominate in the African American community, which particularly fall upon African American women in our country. The Urban League should be applauded for focusing in on the state of black women in America. And we focus in again around education, around health care, around job opportunities, around income within the workplace. When we have been looking at issues around women and the workplace, one of the things that we have noticed persistently is that women still only make about 70 cents of every dollar that men make in the workplace, and we have to continue to fight for our opportunity to be paid equally in the workplace. It becomes even a greater dilemma as we focus in on the foreclosure crisis, which has caused so many families to go under. In the State of Ohio, 90,000 houses or homes in Ohio are in the predatory lending process. I am told that the number across the country is somewhere around 900,000 families or houses in this country are in debt or in trouble as a result of the foreclosure crisis. It becomes even more important that Members of Congress and my colleagues begin to focus in on these issues and try to do what we can to assist those families in the process. One of the dilemmas that we really face as well is, though, that the proposals that have been placed upon the table to try to fix the foreclosure process have not really focused on the people who are stuck in the foreclosure. They are more focused on the banking and financial institutions than on the people and the process. We need to push as Members of Congress to make sure that we pursue other opportunities to assist people who are really in need of our support. It is exciting as we go on and celebrate Black History Month and Women's History Month together that we think about all the great leaders and great women who have come before us in this country. I had an opportunity about 2 weeks ago to be in Akron, Ohio, with a group of women. We were focusing on Women's History Month and that great woman, Sojourner Truth, an African American woman who was a leader in the suffragette movement, even though she recognized back then, even though she fought on behalf of the suffragette movement, that she as an African American woman would not have the opportunity to have the right to vote, even if she won the suffragette movement. We recalled in our discussion this great speech that she gave that was called ``Ain't I a Woman?'' and she talked about that she had worked and slaved in cotton fields, that she was able to till the land just like a man, that she was able to cut down trees like a man and she said, But ain't I a woman? And she went on to talk about the fact that women across this country have worked very hard and very diligently but, in fact, they have not been given the rights or recognition that they should. And she ends this great speech by saying, if one woman can be determined to have turned this world upside down, surely all the women in this room ought to be able to turn it right side up again. And then she said, And the men ought to let them do it. So it is an exciting time as we focus in on Women's History Month that we have a time to reflect on great women like Sojourner Truth and others who were leading the charge to make sure that women had the right to vote and participate in the process. I am excited to discuss in that same vein 22 women, and these 22 women were the founders of my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. These 22 women had been part of another sorority and decided that they wanted to be more focused on political and social issues and created Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Howard University back in 1913, the same year that Judge Jean Murrell Capers was born. Part of their first act was to participate in the suffragette march. I gave a speech the other day that was interesting in the conversation that the people who put the march together, they wanted to push all the African American women to the back of the march because they knew that they would not be able to vote, but the African American women started participating in the march and they said, to heck with this, we're going to be at the front. And so they moved around the march and moved to the front of the march on behalf of the people that are represented. So it was really women who were participating in the forefront that clearly had the chance to give us or set the example for what we should be able to do. I am just so pleased to have had this opportunity on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus to talk about Women's History Month, to talk about African American women who have done such a great job in the process. I am confident that my colleagues would have been here this evening but for other commitments and that is why I have sought to have the privilege to have them be able to revise and extend their remarks so that they can add information to this particular time. It is always great to have a chance to participate in these Special Orders on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus; our Chair, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick; our Vice Chair, Barbara Lee, who happens to be the Speaker in the chair right now. Madam Speaker, with that I am willing to yield back the balance of my time such that the next person who has a Special Order can come forward. I thank you for the time.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it's befitting that you are in the Speaker's chair today as we discuss this very important hour. I have the pleasure to manage this hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus. And we're going to be talking about black history and women's history, a combination of last month and this month's themes. I want to begin by saying that we will have an opportunity to discuss the state of black women in America and pay tribute to African American women in our communities. We felt it befitting, as we recently celebrated Black History Month in February and currently are in the midst of Women's History Month. Tonight we will begin by highlighting some of the findings from the recent study of ``The State of Black America,'' released by the Urban League, and discussing some of the wonderful women from our own congressional districts. I would like to begin now by yielding time to my colleague and good friend from the great State of California, Diane Watson.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members would have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Peace Corps and to commemorate the National Peace Corps Week from February 25-March 3, 2008. During the National Peace Corps week, many celebratory and educational events which acknowledge and honor the Peace Corps will take place across the country. The Peace Corps is an independent Federal agency that was established by Executive order on March 1, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy. The Peace Corps currently actively deploys 8,079 volunteers at 68 posts serving 74 countries abroad to work with governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, NGOs, and schools to address issue areas of concern such as education, health, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, and the environment. Since 1961, more than 190,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries. The Peace Corps mission seeks to, ``Help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.'' The Peace Corps also, ``Helps to promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served,'' and ``to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.'' The mission of the Peace Corps reminds us all as President John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 inaugural address, ``Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' I would like to personally recognize Kyan Chuong, Austine L. Clark, David E. Horton, III, Alexander M. Kelly, Laszio L. Liezkovsky, Nora C. Maresh, Sarah J. Mulligan, Allison N. O'Donnell, Randall M. Quinn, and Hana S. Schein all of whom are sworn-in volunteers serving in various countries abroad with the Peace Corps from the 11th Congressional District of Ohio. On behalf of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, I would like to express gratitude to the 8,079 current Peace Corps volunteers and trainees serving our country and congratulate the Peace Corps on its 47th anniversary.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. I am honored to support one of the many noble causes of the late Senator Paul Wellstone and strongly believe that this bill will address and improve our Nation's need for enhanced mental health services. The plight of families suffering from mental illness is immense due to an absence of adequate social services and the unwarranted stigma surrounding mental health issues. Due to the unwarranted social stigma and a systemic failure to ensure health care coverage, over two-thirds of the people who suffer from mental illness go untreated according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Within minority communities, even greater needs exist for mental health services. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, 20 percent of our children and 26.2 percent of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. As the leading cause of disability in the U.S., many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Thus, the need for mental health services is immense, and we cannot allow discriminatory practices by insurance companies to be an impediment to accessing available services. Last year, I introduced H. Con. Res. 86 to express the sense of Congress that an appropriate month should be recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Bebe Moore Campbell was a premier journalist who, before her untimely death, authored a children's book titled, Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry, winner of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Outstanding Literature Award. Through this story of how a little girl copes with being reared by her mentally ill mother, Moore Campbell was able to raise public awareness of mental health issues and heighten the consciousness of this topic within minority communities. In conclusion, I would like to affirm my support for H.R. 1424. This legislation is necessary to assist families who are struggling through the effects of mental illness and will contribute greatly to our Nation's overall wellness.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, due to events in my district, I will miss votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: H.R. 1143, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, and for other purposes-- ``yea.'' H.R. 1311, to direct the Secrtary of the Interior to convey the Alta- Hualapai Site to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the development of a cancer treatment facility--``yea.'' H.R. 816, to provide for the release of certain land from the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in the State of Nevada and to grant a right-of-way across the released land for the construction and maintenance of a flood control project--``yea.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, due to events in my district I missed votes held on February 26 and 27. Had I been present the record would reflect the following votes: Tuesday, February 26, H. Res. 974--A resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 3521--``yea''; Wednesday, February 27, H.R. 5351--A bill to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy--``yea''; H.R. 5264--A bill to extend certain trade preference programs--``yea''.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Phillip Moses, a good friend and a great constituent of the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio. Phillip Moses is characterized by many as an ``affable and altruistic man.'' Phillip Moses joined the staff of the Case Western Reserve University law school on October 4, 1971, as building superintendent when the law school was located on Adelbert Road in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then he has worked tirelessly providing support for over one hundred faculty and staff, over six hundred students, and to keep the facilities of the building running smoothly. Phillip's calm demeanor and great sense of humor have become an invaluable presence at the law school as well as his ability to prepare the building for classes and special events. Phillip has also been described by some as, ``The ultimate handyman''. When Phillip is not working in the law school, he can be found working on carpentry and construction projects at his home. In 2004, Phillip Moses was chosen as one of three recipients of the President's Award for Distinguished Service at Case Western Reserve University. This is the highest award that the University confers on its staff personnel. The award recognizes an individual's dedication to provide outstanding service to the Case Western Reserve University community. Phillip Moses retired from his work on February 1, 2008. Phillip and his wife will enjoy retirement in their newly purchased home in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee. On behalf of the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio it gives me great pleasure to congratulate my friend, Phillip Moses, for his service to Case Western Reserve University, and the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, due to events in my district I will miss votes on February 14, 2008. Had I been present, the Record would reflect the following votes: H. Res. 982, providing for the adoption of H. Res. 979 and H. Res. 980, contempt of Congress resolutions, ``yea.'' H. Res. 966, honoring African-American inventors, past and present, for their leadership, courage, and significant contributions to our national competitiveness, ``yea.'' H.R. 1834, National Ocean Exploration Program Act, ``yea.'' S. 2571, to make technical corrections to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, ``yea.'' H. Con. Res. 289, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 99th anniversary, ``yea.'' H.R. 4169, American Braille Flag Memorial Act, ``yea.'' H. Res. 790, commending the people of the State of Washington for showing their support for the needs of the State of Washington's veterans and encouraging residents of the other States to pursue creative ways to show their own support for veterans, ``yea.'' H. Res. 963, supporting the goals and ideals of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, ``yea.'' H. Res. 972, supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day, ``yea.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Phillip Morris, a good friend and a great constituent of the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio. Phillip Morris is characterized by many as an ``affable and altruistic man.'' Phillip Morris joined the staff of the Case Western Reserve University law school on October 4, 1971, as building superintendent when the law school was located on Adelbert Road in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then he has worked tirelessly providing support for over one hundred faculty and staff, over six hundred students, and to keep the facilities of the building running smoothly. Phillip's calm demeanor and great sense of humor have become an invaluable presence at the law school as well as his ability to prepare the building for classes and special events. Phillip has also been described by some as, ``The ultimate handyman''. When Phillip is not working in the law school, he can be found working on carpentry and construction projects at his home. In 2004, Phillip Morris was chosen as one of three recipients of the President's Award for Distinguished Service at Case Western Reserve University. This is the highest award that the University confers on its staff personnel. The award recognizes an individual's dedication to provide outstanding service to the Case Western Reserve University community. Phillip Morris retired from his work on February 1, 2008. Phillip and his wife will enjoy retirement in their newly purchased home in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee. On behalf of the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio it gives me great pleasure to congratulate my friend, Phillip Morris, for his service to Case Western Reserve University, and the Eleventh Congressional district of Ohio.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 74th anniversary of the Columbus, Ohio Alumnae Chapter of my beloved sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Chartered on May 20, 1934, the Columbus Alumnae chapter was the 66th chapter of the sorority. Additionally, Delta Sigma Theta, a public service, non-profit organization, will celebrate 95 years of service, locally and globally, this year. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a sorority of predominantly Black college-educated women founded here in Washington, DC at Howard University in 1913. The major programs of our sorority revolve around our Five Point Thrust of: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. With over 250,000 members, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority works to continue the vision of our 22 Founders. This year, during their annual Founder's Day Luncheon, the Columbus Alumnae Chapter highlight the many activities they have been engaged in that have contributed to the betterment of the Columbus area including youth Read-Ins, Scholarships to High School graduates, mentorship, and art and culture programs. Additionally, they will recognize African American women in the Columbus area who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the community during their annual Founders Day Luncheon. Therefore, I commend the Columbus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for their commitment to the people of Columbus, Ohio and across this country. I join with them in this celebration and thank them for their enduring commitment to the sisterhood, scholarship, and service of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This legislation will help break down the barriers, particularly the ever-rising costs of higher education, for Americans to obtain a college degree. I am extremely excited about the provision from my legislation, the Campus Fire Safety and Prevention Act, that is included in this bill. This legislation would establish a demonstration incentive program within the Department of Education to promote installation of fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in qualified student housing or dormitories, and for other purposes. Fire safety and prevention is an issue that needs to be addressed across this country. Over these few years we have seen many tragedies involving fire at colleges, places of business, entertainment venues and places of residence. Nationwide, 126 people have been killed in student housing since January 2000, as identified by the Center for Campus Fire Safety, a non-profit organization that compiles information on campus-related fires. Almost 83 percent of the fire fatalities have occurred in off-campus occupancies such as rented houses and apartments. Common factors in a number of these fires include: lack of automatic sprinklers, disabled smoke alarms, careless disposal of smoking materials, and alcohol consumption. We must begin to put in place suppression measures against fires and increase support and resources for our fire fighters to ensure that no more lives are lost to fires that could have been prevented. I encourage my colleagues to pass the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This legislation would reform our higher education system so that it operates in the best interests of students and families.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, as reported by the Education and Labor Committee under the able leadership of the gentlemen from California, Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon. I want to commend the chairman specifically for including in the bill a provision requiring the Government Accountability Office to examine the impact that law school accreditation requirements and other factors have on the costs of law school and student access to law school, including the impact of such requirements on racial and ethnic minorities. I would also like to thank my colleague Representative Bobby Scott for his efforts to have this amendment included. This provision is important and timely in light of a 15 year decline in minority law school enrollment documented by a Columbia Law School web site created in conjunction with the Society of American Law Teachers. As described in the National Law Journal and other publications, the site uses 12 graphs and nearly 200 data points to illustrate an 8.6 percent drop in law school enrollment among African American and Mexican American students between 1992 and 2006. This disturbing trend has occurred even while overall law school enrollment numbers have increased and admissibility indicators for minority applicants have improved. in addition, 2007 statistics from the Law School Admissions Council suggest that high shutout rates may be discouraging African American and Mexican American students from applying to law school in the first place; data show that the number of African American and Mexican American applicants has fallen significantly since 2004. One certain factor in the trend is the over-reliance of law schools and accreditors on L.S.A.T. scores as an admissions criterion and I expect the GAO study to bear that out. In the meantime, Madam Chairman, this trend threatens great harm to minority and disadvantaged communities throughout the United States where the consequences will include reduced access to quality legal services and less economic opportunity and empowerment. It is therefore critical that Congress understand and take active steps to counteract the various factors that have contributed to the decline. Realizing the promise of ``equal justice under the law'' requires that we ensure equal opportunity to legal education for students who come from, and intend to serve, our Nation's neediest communities. Despite the remarkable progress that has been made, many obstacles to opportunity remain. We cannot stand idle as minority underrepresentation in the legal profession increases. So, as we await the results of the GAO study, I respectfully urge my colleagues on the Education Committee to conduct hearings that will illuminate the problem, its causes, and expert recommendations for alleviating it. In closing, I will insert into the Record the aforementioned articles. There are current efforts underway by members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses to formally request a hearing on this subject and to urge the ABA Section of Legal Education to adopt law school accreditation standards that are consistent with the goal of increasing minority representation in the legal profession. Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the bill. [From the National Law Journal, Jan. 21, 2008] Minority Enrollment Is Faltering (By Leigh Jones) A web site recently established by an elite law school paints a dismal picture of enrollment among certain minority groups in law schools generally--a picture that may well become still bleaker. Enrollment of blacks and Mexican-Americans has fallen by 8.6% in the past 15 years, according to a Web site created by Columbia Law School and the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT). The decline has occurred as applications to law schools among those two groups have remained constant and as law school enrollment overall has increased since 1992. With law schools continuing to revere U.S. News & World Report rankings and with anti-affirmative action initiatives possibly being on the ballot in five states in November, it appears that the situation may only worsen. ``It's not a pipeline problem,'' said Conrad Johnson, clinical professor of law at Columbia. Johnson and two law students working with the school's Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic helped create the Web site, along with SALT. He said that the statistics, compiled from information provided by the Law School Admission Council, dispute the notion that the low enrollment numbers among blacks and Mexican-Americans are due to dwindling applications from those groups. Eye on rankings From 1992 to 2006, the number of blacks and Mexican- Americans enrolled in the nation's law schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) fell from 3,937 to 3,595. During that same time period, the number of ABA accredited law schools grew from 176 to 195. Johnson acknowledged an uptick in African-American enrollment in 2006, the biggest increase in 10 years, but he said that a combination of both groups showed a continuous decline during the 15-year period. Vernellia Randall, a professor at University of Dayton School of Law and creator of the The Whitest Law School Report, said that law schools, concerned about their U.S. News & World Report rankings, are requiring higher scores from applicants on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which has resulted in lower admission numbers among people from the two minority groups. In the rankings, a school's median LSAT score is part of a larger score designed to measure a school's selectivity in choosing applicants who enter an incoming class. Selectivity accounts for 25% of a school's ranking. The Columbia Law School Web site notes that LSAT and grade- point average scores have increased among African-American and Mexican-American applicants. But more demanding requirements from law schools continue to outpace improvements in scores, Randall said. ``It's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better,'' she said. U.S. News & World Report does not include diversity as one of the factors in the rankings, but it does publish a separate ranking of law schools that have high minority enrollment numbers. Revamping the general law school rankings to include diversity as a factor would be difficult, said Robert Morse, director of data research at U.S. News & World Report. Not only would the standard need to account for the difference in minority populations in various parts of the country, but the rankings would require a value judgment regarding which minority groups' enrollment ``improved'' a school, he said. Part of the concern about the low numbers relates to efforts in five states to ban race- and gender-based preferences. Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma all have initiatives under way to place questions on November ballots that would end programs that increase minority and female numbers in education and in government. The effort is led by Ward Connerly, president of the American Civil Liberties Institute, which led successful efforts to ban such preferences in California, Michigan and Washington. ``Preferences are morally wrong,'' said Connerly, who is black. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306, that the University of Michigan Law School's race-preference admissions policy served a compelling interest in maintaining a diverse student body. Marquette University Law School Dean Joseph Kearney said his school relies heavily on affirmative action to recruit minorities. Marquette was ranked No. 8 among Randall's latest ranking of the "Whitest Law Schools." Its student body is 89.5% white, with black enrollment equaling 2.7% and Mexican- Americans making up 0.7%, according to the 2007 ABA Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools. Kearney, who challenges the validity of Randall's list, attributes his school's low numbers to competition from its state competitor, University of Wisconsin Law School, which has lower tuition and is aggressive on minority recruitment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, due to events scheduled in my district, I will miss votes on January 29, 2008. Please let the Record reflect that had I been present, my vote would have reflected the following: H.R. 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008--``yea.'' H.R. 1528 New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act--``aye.'' H.R. 933 Commending the Louisiana State University Tigers Football Team--``yea.''

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to celebrate the life of one of the greatest leaders in our Nation's history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King is revered and respected throughout the world for his commitment to unite humanity by working to end segregation and racial discrimination and to create social and economic justice for all. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the issues of racism, segregation, and inequality to the forefront of the United States' and the world's moral conscience. He willingly sacrificed his life for humanity in the hope of helping our Nation fulfill its promise of ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'' for all Americans. He vehemently expressed that America could not be true to its vision unless these inalienable rights expressed in its founding documents could be applied to all. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a world-wide community where all forms of discrimination and prejudice would cease to exist. He advocated peaceful methods of conflict resolution instead of brute force and violence. To King, his dream was not a utopian ideal, but a reality that could be actively sought. King stated that, ``It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.'' Those who released attack dogs at him, sprayed him down with firehoses, threatened him, and even bombed his house ultimately learned to respect him and his vision because of his unequivocal embrace of humanity for all. He looked past the evil he faced and the ignorance many held firmly close at heart with an empathetic vision of hope for social and economic justice. That is, he believed righteousness and love could overcome the greatest evils. I quote his vision, ``Yes if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.'' In his last sermon, Dr. King stated, ``If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral, and if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell him not to talk too long.--Tell him not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize; that isn't important. Tell him not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards; that's not important. Tell him not to mention where I went to school. I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to love somebody--I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.'' On behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional of Ohio I join with the rest of the Nation, and the world to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The torch has now been passed on to us to carry on his commitment for social and economic justice. There is still more work to be done. We must continue to strive towards making the dream Dr. King dreamt for us into a reality. May his legacy live on.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I don't know whether I did or not. I wanted to come to the floor and say how proud I am of my ``sons,'' Kendrick and Tim. Actually, they are not my sons, but I call them that anyway. But I come here and look, and I have Anna and Mary who are visiting the House floor today, and these two young women are examples of how important SCHIP could be to the children of America. I am so glad they had a chance to join me with one of my good friends, Robin. We serve on a couple of committees together, and this is what we talk about, bipartisan action on the floor of the House. Ladies, thank you so much for coming to visit with me. I will take this pink sweater and this red ribbon and I will look gorgeous. But I am glad to join my colleagues here on the floor of the House as we talk about the economic stimulus, because the people of Ohio need a stimulus. They need jobs, they need health care, and they need jobs that make real money. They need to be saved from these mortgage brokers who have hurt them deeply. I recognize my ``sons,'' of whom I am so very proud.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I will recognize each of you. Thank you very much.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Since 1973, women in this country have exercised choice over their health and the future of their lives. Celebration of this landmark decision is a celebration of America's commitment to uphold freedom and liberty for all. According to the National Abortion Federation, abortion was actually legal, common, and publicly advertised until the mid 1880s. When abortions became illegal, many women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to self-induce their abortions or by going to untrained practitioners who performed abortions with primitive methods or in unsanitary conditions. Prior to this 1973 decision, women with economic means were able to access medical assistance, (however illegal) while poor women in desperation were forced to subject themselves to back-alley abortions and the subsequent consequences to health, dignity, and privacy. According to the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, approximately 13 percent of maternal deaths worldwide today are attributable to unsafe abortion--between 68,000 and 78,000 deaths annually. Equitable access to safe abortion services is first and foremost a human right. It has been accurately stated, ``Where abortion is safe and legal, no one is forced to have one''--Human Rights Watch. Having a choice and access to a safe abortion is an enormous concern, estimated to affect one in three American women by the age of 45--National Abortion Federation. In many countries, the denial of reproductive choices makes women succumb to second rate citizenship, further perpetuating the feminization of poverty. Where women are able to exercise choice, they are in control of their opportunities without intrusion by their government. Any restriction on such a choice offends fundamental liberties. The social, economic and physical consequences of denying women choice are devastating. Because of our global position as a model of democracy and freedom, it is imperative that we stand to acknowledge this decision of the Supreme Court that affirms women's jurisdiction over their bodies and extends the message that the United States is a country which affirms reproductive choice. May we forever remain a Nation that does not corner its citizens, but rather respects their capacity to make decisions over their health and future pursuits.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my upcoming Special Order.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, 1st Samuel, chapter 20, verse 18, reads as follows: ``Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the New Moon Festival. You will be missed because your seat will be empty.'' Tonight, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Indiana delegation pause to celebrate the life of a great woman whose seat now stands empty here in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Julia Carson. Congresswoman Carson passed away this past Saturday after a long bout with lung cancer. And while her seat is empty, her spirit lives on in our hearts. She was unique. She often reminded me of the elders in my family. They are strong in their convictions and don't pull any punches when making their point; yet they have a witty and humorous way about them that can disarm even their most ardent opponent. That was Congresswoman Julia Carson. Even though she was in her last illness, she did not let that stop her from advocating on behalf of her constituents. And she never complained. She always greeted you with a warm smile and that unmistakable humor which always made you feel good. She was a trailblazer, born in poverty and racial segregation to a teenage single mother. She came through the political ranks to become the first African American and woman elected to Congress from Indianapolis. A strong advocate for her constituents, she was not afraid to take a stand, be it popular or unpopular. Madam Speaker, I will include for the Record an article that was in today's Roll Call that was written by her predecessor Andy Jacobs as a guest observer and was entitled ``Remembering Congress' Jewel Named Julia.'' It is a wonderful article. I won't go through it because we have a lot of people here who want to speak about their remembrances of our wonderful colleague Julia Carson. [From Roll Call, Dec. 18, 2007] Remembering Congress' Jewel Named Julia (By Andy Jacobs, Jr.) ``Look where he came from and look where he went; and wasn't he a kind of tough struggler all his life right up to the finish?'' The words are those of Carl Sandburg in praise of Abraham Lincoln. The same praise could and should be said of our sister, the late Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.), who has passed beyond the sound of our voices into the sunset of her temporal life and into a dawn of history. Where did she come from? Same place as Lincoln--Kentucky. And like him, she was born both to physical poverty and spiritual wealth, and moved to Indiana. Another similarity: Julia also had an ``angel mother,'' Velma Porter, who put a lot of physical, mental and spiritual nutrients into the little flowerpot of her only child. Fast-forward to a month after my first and improbable election to Congress. I was told by mutual friends that at the Chrysler UAW office, I could find a remarkable woman to join me as a co-worker in my Washington Congressional office. Remarkable? Understatement. Thus began my 47-year friendship and, eventually virtual sibling-ship with the already honorable Julia Carson, one of the most intelligent, ethical, industrious and compassionate people I have ever known. Check out her first Congressional brainstorm. It started a national trend. Why make constituents in need of Congressional assistance with bureaucratic problems travel all the way to D.C. to get it? Why not take that part of the office to them? So we adopted her suggestion and did out ``case work'' in Indianapolis with Julia at the helm. It set an example that has been followed by other Congressional offices all over the country ever since. OK, there was one other factor. She had two little kids she preferred to rear in Indianapolis, doing well by her kids by doing good for her country. Later, my refusal to bring home a particularly pernicious piece of political pork earned me a severe gerrymander that, together with the Nixon landslide, ejected me from Congress. Nothing is all bad; the beneficiary of the gerrymander was my much-admired friend, Bill Hudnut (R). That was the year I had to talk Julia into running for the state House of Representatives. She thought it would be disloyal to our friendship because it would take her away from my campaign, which was a campaign of futility that year. She was elected to the state House, where she served with distinction and, in time, she became a state Senator, again gaining friends and admirers on both sides of the aisle. Still later, she became the Center Township trustee and produced real ``welfare reform,'' not with ignorant histrionic speeches and braggadocio, but with hard, quiet and meticulous work. It was reform that broke no poor child's heart, nor sent such a child to bed hungry. She not only ferreted out welfare cheats, but also sued them and got the money back for the taxpayers. Her reform wiped out a long- standing multimillion-dollar debt, moving the then-Marion County Republican auditor to say, ``She wrestled the monster to the ground.'' Julia was unique in that she was the only human being ever to be named Woman of the Year by The Indianapolis Star on two different occasions. It was common parlance to say, ``Congresswoman Carson's people,'' a reference to poor black constituents. Rubbish. The 7th district is about 70 percent nonblack and ``her people'' were all the people of the 7th, regardless of physical or economic description. Millionaires can be treated unjustly by the federal government just as middle- and low- income citizens can. And wherever there was injustice, this Lincoln-like lady was there to redress it. Her political philosophy was a plank from the Sermon on the Mount: ``Blessed are they who thirst for justice.'' There's another one: ``Blessed are the peacemakers.'' She cast our vote against the conspicuously unconstitutional resolution that gave the Cheney gang a fig leaf to order our innocent military to the fraudulent and internationally illegal blood-soaked blunder in Iraq. Julia called me just before she cast that vote and said that, in view of the dishonesty, panic and jingoism of the moment, she expected to lose the next election. ``Courage,'' my mother said, ``is fear that has said its prayers.'' Our Julia, who art in Heaven.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I am going to begin with the dean of the Indiana delegation, Representative Dan Burton.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I now yield to my colleague and good friend, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Kilpatrick. And I had an opportunity to visit with Congresswoman Carson a couple of weeks before her passing. It was a wonderful chance. I yield to our Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am happy that the Congress is doing its part today to alleviate the pressure Americans all over the country are feeling due to the subprime mortgage crisis. It is estimated that before this housing slump is over, almost 2 million homeowners will lose their homes due to skyrocketing interest rates on their mortgages. In September of this year, the House passed the Mortgage Relief Debt Forgiveness Act of 2007 without controversy. The Members of the House agreed on a bipartisan basis that this relief is necessary to give homeowners peace of mind as they navigate the current difficulties in the housing market. The Senate amendment to this bill further demonstrates Congress's support for this relief. Many Americans are getting hit by the double whammy of, one, losing their homes to foreclosure and, two, getting slapped with a tax bill when the debt on their home is discharged by the lender. In situations where a lender forgives outstanding debt, it is considered income and, thus, is taxable. I believe that our Tax Code, above all, should promote fairness and equity. Under current law, if your House is under foreclosure and the bank discharges your debt, you receive a tax bill. I don't think that's fair or equitable. It doesn't seem right for individuals in this circumstance to face a tax bill when they really have no increase in their net worth. As I see it, their house went down in value, and the individuals couldn't meet their current requirements, resulting in foreclosure. The resolution we consider today rectifies that disconnect so that if a person's principal residence lost value, that loss won't give rise to a tax liability. The provision would sunset in 3 years. In addition, H.R. 3648, as amended, would provide a 3-year extension of the deduction for private mortgage insurance. The deduction makes it easier for homebuyers to avoid having to take out a risky high-interest second loan in order to make a down payment. Finally, the bill includes provisions to make it easier for taxpayers to form housing cooperation corporations. I hope this whole House can join the Ways and Means Committee members in strong support of this resolution. H.R. 3648 restores some fairness to the Tax Code by preventing the unexpected tax consequences of foreclosure from hurting homeowners already smarting from the loss of their homes. Passage today will direct this bill to the President's desk and clear the path for this important legislation to become law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.