Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. If the gentleman from Oregon will yield further, briefly, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support of this designation. The reason I was so brief in my commentary, I did not think I had a chance to lay upon the record all the things that the gentleman said about Mayor D'Amico of South Euclid. He was truly a genuine supporter of mine in every office that I have run for previously, and a leader and a light in the community of Cuyahoga County. I would just like to associate myself with the comments of the chairman and thank him for his support, and thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for his support.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me and giving me the opportunity to speak. I briefly thank my colleagues for their support to designate a post office in the city of South Euclid on behalf of the mayor, Arnold C. D'Amico. Mr. Speaker, Arnold D'Amico was born in Warren, Ohio on September 3, 1923 and received his early education from Notre Dame Sisters at Saint Mary's Catholic School. After graduating from Warren Harding School he enrolled at Kent State University. However, World War II interrupted his college education and Mr. D'Amico served with distinction for three years in the United States Army, and was assigned to the Aleutian Islands and the China-Burma-India theaters. Following his distinguished military service he returned to Kent State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business Administration. After graduation, Mr. D'Amico was very active politically in the Greater Cleveland business community with a career spanning over 20 years. During this time he was elected councilman for Ward 2 in South Euclid, Ohio. While on City Council, Mr. D'Amico served on the Planning Commission, and he was the chairman of the Council of Government of the Tri-City Consortium on Aging Commission. Subsequently, he was elected Mayor of South Euclid, Ohio. In 1976, Arnold D'Amico became South Euclid's first full time Mayor. He was not only committed to the city of South Euclid, but he was also instrumental in moving the city forward. Under his leadership South Euclid prospered and established itself as a model city of efficiency. Mayor D'Amico was a wonderful man and I am happy to support this designation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for organizing this hour. Madam Speaker, as I sit here, I realize I am probably the person who is speaking who knew Bruce Vento the least amount of time. I just came to Congress in this 106th Congress and had the fortune of serving on the Committee on Banking and Financial Services with Bruce Vento, as well as the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Now, when one is a freshman, as the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) said, one sits way down in the front and the more higher ranking members sit way in the back. So when we started, because this is such a large body, one does not get to know all of the Members; but one gets to know the people they serve on the committee with. The thing I remember first about Bruce Vento was that deep voice. So when we went through the roll, they would say Vento, here or yes, and I would turn around and try to figure out who it was. Luckily on the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, the room was much smaller, and so he sat right behind me. Many chances I got to say so and so and how are you doing and the like. All I can say is having only known him about 20 months or less, he was good at, as everyone said, instructing and teaching. Through the H.R. 10 financial modernization, I always looked to hear what he had to say as we went through our hearings. Through the housing situations, I agreed with him about the need for affordable housing. Dr. Martin Luther King says these words: ``God can do tremendous things through the person who does not care who gets the credit,'' and I think that most exemplifies Bruce Vento. I am pleased to be here this evening. I did not know his wife. I did not know his family; but as just one little Member of Congress, I say to them that they have my condolences and my prayers, and I know where Bruce Vento is. He is up among the birds and the trees on a lake somewhere just laying back and enjoying it, and I pray that he enjoys the rest of his time.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, since I have 45 seconds, I am going to forego all the preliminaries and only stand to say, as a former prosecutor engaged in the prosecution of domestic violence cases, the Violence Against Women Act provided us the opportunity to come together and put together a program and protocol in our community to deal with violence against women. I am very proud to stand in support of this legislation as it extends itself to deal with women who are in this country and the victim of violence. I will again say that I hate the administrative nightmares that are aided by the Aimee's law, but it is very important that we make sure that we provide prosecutors, State court judges, police officers, and Violence Against Women workers with the money they need to do the job out on the streets.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I support the Violence Against Women Act (``VAWA''). On September 26, 2000, this Body voted to reauthorize VAWA in a vote of 415 to 3. Our colleagues in the other Body are now considering the reauthorization of this important legislation. In my career as a judge and prosecutor, I witnessed many instances in which violence tore at the fabric of family life, causing harm to women and children. The Violence Against Women Act would ensure a comprehensive approach to combating violence through the tools of family services, community initiatives, training for law enforcement, and educational programs. The Act would also protect women with disabilities, many of whom are unable to advocate on their own behalf. This Body's support of VAWA indicates widespread recognition of the problem of violence against women, and that it must stop. I urge that our colleagues in the other Body reauthorize this legislation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) this afternoon in the special order, as well as my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott). I am pleased to stand and rise in support of the special order with regard to H.R. 5158, Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000 and H.R. 906, Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 1999. It is interesting that while voter registration drives move at full speed, and while campaign speeches are given to varying constituencies, one group is still left out. We always say, ``It is your vote that is your voice. If you do not vote, you do not have a voice.'' The people without a voice today are those in the States wherein convicted felons who have completed their time in jail or who are off of parole do not have the right to vote. That is why I am proud to stand in support of both of these bills, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Think about it. America was founded as a second chance; a second chance for freedom, a second chance away from religious persecution. Why then are we stripping rights from people who have served their time, paid their debt to society and now want a second chance? We must remember that this Nation stood up when it granted women the right to vote. This Nation stood up over 2 decades ago when African Americans were disenfranchised by Jim Crow, by all the poll taxes, all the literacy tests, and recognized that disenfranchisement runs counter to our democratic ideals of freedom, justice, and liberty. In the United States, felony convictions bring civil consequences. We all know that. Offenders may lose the right to vote, sit on juries, hold offices, and obtain various licenses. The problem is that these penalties continue long after the sentence is served and long after the debt is paid. Let us give those rights back to give an opportunity for the offenders to be whole again. Forty-six States and the District deny convicted adults in prison the right to vote; 32 States disenfranchise felons on parole; 29 disenfranchise those on probation; and 14 bar ex-offenders for life. We have already gone through the statistics. Think about it like this. My predecessors died for me to have the right to vote. What that did was it not only gave people the right to vote, but it gave them the opportunity to be heard, and it also made them responsible citizens in their community. By disenfranchising so many people in our communities, particularly disproportionately African Americans, we disenfranchise a Nation, a generation of young people whose parents will not know about voting. So how can they take their children to the ballot box if they have not had the right to vote? If we want the people to believe that they have a part in this society, that they are useful in this society, we need to give them the opportunity and the right to vote so that they can then act responsibly and go out and vote. Some will argue this legislation makes legislators soft on crime. Nonsense. Legislation like Second Chance and Civic Participation make legislators not soft on crime but strong on democracies. Others are concerned that victims and ex-felons might determine election outcomes, particularly where local sheriffs and judges have run tough-on-crime campaigns. Nonsense. Voting is a right that comes with citizenship. Let us give it back. Why do I support both these pieces of legislation? Because participation aids in rehabilitation and public confidence. Ex- offenders have served their time; let us not punish them forever. And felony voting restrictions have strong racial overtones, since African Americans are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. We must do better. If we are discouraged about low voting participation from the general public, let us do something positive about it. Let us give ex-offenders a new chance, a second chance, a new start to start their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must clear up this stain on our Nation and support both of these pieces of legislation. Let me finally close with a couple of anecdotes. When I served as a judge and people I had placed on probation completed their probation and were sent out in the world, they were discouraged because they could not get a job, they were discouraged because they did not have a right to vote, they were discouraged because they could not get a license. We must give these persons an opportunity to become useful citizens in our community. Think about it like this: Right now on the TV on the Divorce Court, we have a young judge who was a juvenile offender. He turned his life around. He is a shining example of young people who can turn their lives around when aided and supported and make a difference in our society. Support the right thing. Support a second chance. Support H.R. 5158 and H.R. 906. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald) for her leadership on this issue and I would ask all my colleagues to join in the leadership team and vote in favor in support of these pieces of legislation.

Ms. JONES of Ohio

Ms. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak on support of this legislation. I can think of no one more deserving of this tribute. Larry Small served with distinction on the Beachwood City Council for 32 years, retiring just recently at the age of 82. Mr. Small is so well thought of by his neighbors that they paid tribute to him by declaring December 20, 1999 ``Larry Small Day.'' Larry Small is an exceedingly modest man never seeks to bring attention to his many accomplishments and contributions. So let me do it for him: Over the years, Mr. Small has done many things, great and small, to improve his community and to enhance the lives of his neighbors. For example, he brought paramedics to the city's safety forces and vigorously supported the police and fire departments. He is also responsible for enacting a city ordinance making gun owners responsible for the safe and secure handling and storage of their firearms. He also created Beachwood's Human Services Department, a department that responds to residents' needs, particularly the elderly. Retirement from City Council doesn't mean that Larry Small has retired from his commitment to his community. In fact, he continues at full pace to brighten the lives of others. Mr. Small still gets up at 5:30 a.m. and heads to his day job as a seniors affairs specialist for the county. When we look back on these times, it won't be the great names and famous faces that we most remember, but those quiet, humble, yet so effective public servants like Larry Small who will stand out in our hearts and memories. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Larry Small and those like him who walk humbly and serve others. For this reason, I am so pleased that we can thank Mr. Small for all he has done for us by naming the post office in his beloved city of Beachwood after him. So it gives me great pleasure to have a chance to support this piece of legislation. I stand wholeheartedly in support of this bill and congratulate my colleagues in moving to passing this legislation to rename the post office in Beachwood, Ohio after our great friend, Larry Small.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, in the years from the founding of Holy Name Parish in 1859 to this testimonial dinner in the new millennium, the community has witnessed many changes. One constant in the sea of change is the service and dedication of Holy Name Parish. The church established itself as a beacon of hope from its humble beginnings in the home of a local farmer to opening the first coeducational school in Cleveland. Reverend Thomas V. O'Donnell unselfishly serves in the footsteps of the visionaries who came before him to shepherd the flock known as Holy Name Parish. As her spiritual leader he will guide the parish in continuing to accept her role as not only a monument of bricks and mortar but as a center of community life to the Harvard and Broadway area. Be it resolved that I, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, do hereby welcome the featured speaker Bishop Anthony Pilla. May you be proud of the achievements of the last 140 years and may you prosper into the next millenium. ``Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name . . . And there rejoice before the Lord you God.'' Dt. 12:12

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on Small Business, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent), and my ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), for their hard work on the Committee on Small Business. During my first term in Congress, I have had an opportunity to work very hard with each of them in trying to preserve the small businesses in our country. I also succeeded my good colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn), who has been working very hard on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus on this issue of bundling. I will not be repetitive, Mr. Chairman, in my remarks. My colleagues have put on the record very important information about the impact that bundling has had on small business. The businesses from the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, which I represent, which is Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs, have come to me on more than one occasion saying, this bundling is keeping us from having an opportunity to do business with the United States Government. What can you do about it? What can you do about it? I am pleased to be supportive of my colleagues on this issue. I kind of think of it sometimes as an impact of a business in my own community, where they say I have been making this ice cream for 100 years in my community but the larger companies keep making ice cream. My ice cream is as good. It tastes as good, but I cannot competitively offer the same price. Give me a chance to get to the table. Give me a smaller contract where I can do business with my people, so the people in my community can eat, send their kids to school, live in a nice house. So what we are just saying is we need the opportunity. What this bill will do will prove what we are saying. It will show that small businesses in our country have been displaced and basically put out of business as a result of not having access to government contracts. The bundling has killed their opportunity to be competitive, and we want them to be competitive once again. So I am going to stop at this point and just say that I am glad to be a part of a committee, the Committee on Small Business, that gets to issues, passes partisanship, and gets to issues that are important to the small businesses of our community.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, there is a growing concern in the global community that the United States may be drifting into increasing isolationism and that the American people are largely disinterested in what happens outside the borders of their own country. I am very proud to highlight two individuals, brothers named Peter B. Lewis and Daniel R. Lewis, who are shining examples of individual American's interest and concern for people in need in other countries and their willingness to stand up and make a difference. Peter B. Lewis, a resident of Cleveland and one of my constituents, and his brother Daniel R. Lewis have dedicated a great deal of their own time and resources to promoting peace in the Middle East. They have worked hard to lay the groundwork for peaceful coexistence among the national, religious and ethnic groups in the Greater Cleveland Area. The Lewis brothers have worked in conjunction with Interns for Peace to develop and implement innovative community development projects that bring together Israelis and Palestinians to work on issues of common concern. To date, the largest project initiated by the Lewis brothers is the Rabbi Albert Manilla Lewis Saving Human Life Project, which has empowered and united thousands of Palestinians and Israelis in public safety issues. The program has identified road safety as an area of common concern among all sectors of society in Israel and Palestinian areas. Using this common ground, the Rabbi Lewis Program has brought together individuals from different communities to work toward the common goal of reducing traffic injuries and fatalities. Perhaps most impressive, this program works across the complete spectrum of society in the region with a heavy emphasis on individuals from Palestinian refugee camps and in Orthodox Jewish communities in Israel. The Lewis brothers' choice of mechanisms for engendering cooperation and understanding is no accident. They know a thing or two about automobile safety. The Lewises founded one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, Progressive Insurance, which is based in northern Ohio and provides automobile insurance to millions of Americans. The work of Peter Lewis and Daniel Lewis is making a difference in the Middle East at a critical time. The program they have created works to promote peaceful co-existence and mutual respect, despite the cultural and historic differences of the communities involved. This is a parallel and complimentary track to the formal peace negotiations underway and important groundwork for any peace agreement that may be reached. I commend Peter Lewis and Daniel Lewis for their insight, compassion, and creativity in seeking to make the world a better and safer place for people today and for future generations. It is through people like the Lewises--ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things--that our country has prospered and become a global leader and a beacon of hope for people across the globe. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to others, and good luck in your future efforts to promote peace and understanding in the Middle East.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4923, the Community Renewal and New Markets Act. However, I do want to say I share the concerns of my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), with regard to the issues of religious freedom and the application of religion to someone's requirement or ability to be served or have a part in a particular program. I am a freshman Member of Congress. I serve on the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and the Committee on Small Business. I chose those committees because in Cleveland, Ohio, the 11th Congressional District, from 1986 through 1997 the average income dropped 10 percent. Within the State of Ohio, it rose an average of 5 percent. That is, in part, because the city has lost high-paying blue collar jobs and has gained jobs in the service sector where the salaries on average are lower by 13 percent. I believe that this legislation will allow communities like the City of Cleveland to be revived. We have had great housing starts in Cleveland, new housing coming up in areas where we had riots a few years ago. What is not there is what makes a full community, and that is businesses and opportunities for employment right in one's own neighborhood, and opportunities for young people to see that the people in their communities own businesses and can employ persons right in their own neighborhood. I rise in strong support of this act because I believe it will provide that opportunity and will clean up some of the neighborhoods through brownfields support. I support everyone who stood in support of this legislation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2919. This opportunity is of particular significance because today one of the finest gentlemen of the House, a true statesman, my predecessor, the gentleman from Ohio, the Honorable Louis Stokes, is on the floor. And it is significant that I have the opportunity to continue his legacy by having an opportunity to speak on legislation that was part of his original work here in the House of Representatives, the underground railroad. I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for their hard work and dedication. The Freedom Center Act will help establish the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The goal of the center is to preserve and promote the legacy of the underground railroad. The core feature will be its preservation of stories of the underground railroad in an interactive state of the art technology link to existing underground railroad sites. The freedom center's mission is to educate the public about the historic struggle to abolish human slavery and secure freedom for all people. The museum will be the first of its kind in the Nation and Cincinnati is an ideal location because of its prominence in the underground railroad movement. To preserve the legacy of the underground railroad, it is important that we think back, that some estimates say 40,000 slaves escaped via the railroad system in 22 States. According to the Ohio Humanities Council, Ohio has more underground railroad lines than any other State, numbering almost 150 sites. H.R. 2919 supports this collaborative by, among other things, making grants for the preservation and restoration of historic buildings or structures associated with the underground railroad across this Nation. I rise today to build upon the work of the Honorable Louis Stokes and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) and I thank my colleagues for this opportunity to be heard.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor and celebrate four African-American women. I would like to begin with the memoriam for Jean Ford Clayton. Jean Ford Clayton, a retired Cleveland police detective, died on July 8 at her home in University Heights, Ohio. Mrs. Clayton was an exemplary police officer who is credited with leveling the playing field for other female detectives with their male counterparts. In 1972, women who joined the police force were automatically assigned to the Women's Bureau and limited to handling cases involving neglected and abused children, juvenile delinquency and rape. Mrs. Clayton challenged this policy by filing charges of sex discrimination against the Cleveland Police Department with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As a result of Mrs. Clayton's lawsuit, the doors of opportunity were opened to all female police officers in roles traditionally reserved for men. Her tenacity and perseverance helped to change the face of law enforcement locally and nationally. After retiring from the Cleveland Police Department, Mrs. Clayton continued her community involvement by working with juveniles and as a chief investigator for the Cleveland Job Corps Center. In addition to her second career, Mrs. Clayton worked for 22 years as a counselor with the National Football League's Youth Development Camp. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Eddie Clayton, two daughters, one son, and 16 grandchildren. Her son is deceased, and she is survived by 16 grandchildren. On a personal note, I would like to say it was through the support of Jean Clayton that I was able to serve well as both a judge and a prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The second woman I would like to honor is living. Her name is Bishop Vashti McKenzie. After 213 years, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has finally selected a woman for the position of Bishop, Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie was elected Bishop at the A.M.E. General Conference in Cincinnati on July 11, 2000. She is a pastor of the 1,700 member Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church in Baltimore. Dr. McKenzie is an Ordained Itinerant Elder in African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Pastor of Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church in Baltimore City. The 101-year-old historic congregation has tripled in membership since her arrival. Under her leadership, there are 15 new ministries designed to enhance, enrich, inspire and meet critical needs of the community. She is the wife of Stan McKenzie, former star in the National Basketball Association; and they have three children, Jon-Mikael, Vashti-Jasmine, and Joi-Marie. In the November 1993 issue of Ebony Magazine, she was selected for the Honor Roll of Great African-American Preachers. She was selected after a poll of national, civic, social, religious and academic leaders. Her ``Ministry of Equality and Hope'' was featured in 1999 in Ebony Magazine. She is characterized as an electrifying speaker in an issue of Jet; is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park; holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University. She earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She is a member of several service organizations. One of them, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is my sorority. She is the granddaughter and namesake of one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta, the late Vashti Turley Murphy. She serves as the spiritual leader of more than 175,000 college-trained women as the national chaplain. She has traveled considerably and continues to do so across the United States. As one of the newest bishops in the A.M.E. Church, Bishop McKenzie will be presiding over the 18th Episcopal District, which includes portions of Southern Africa. The last two young women that I would like to celebrate today, Mr. Speaker, are Serina and Venus Williams, the winners of Wimbledon, Venus as the singles winner and Serina and Venus as the doubles winner. What better role models could we have for young women throughout this country than to see these two fantastic young women who have been successful in the tennis arena? I am very proud to be able to stand today, Mr. Speaker, to celebrate four strong African-American women.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I am a new member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services; and over this past session, I have had an opportunity to hear us debate the issue of debt relief. More recently in Banking, we have had a discussion of a bill called Prohibiting Predatory Lending, where lenders have preyed upon low- income mostly inner-city minority senior women and caused them to put themselves deeper in debt than they were before the lending was had. Tonight we have the opportunity to step up to get rid of the predatory lenders, to not be predatory lenders any more for the African nations. We have the right and the opportunity to make it right, to let these nations step away from these predatory loans and allow them the opportunity to begin anew, to provide relief so that African growth and opportunity can be had, so that African people can have jobs, so that African people can be relieved of unnecessary debt. We want and we should as a country be prepared to step up to the plate because we all want to get into Africa and do business. We know how rich Africa is, what opportunities there are for growth not only for that country but for our country as well. So why not give them the opportunity to be relieved of debt? And do not think that we can run through Africa and do business and not get AIDS. AIDS is a serious issue. It is an economic security issue that will affect us all. So it is time now for us to in fact do the right thing and give debt relief. And, see, I am not talking about heartstrings. The gentleman from California kept talking about my heartstrings are tugged, I feel sorry for the African people. It is not about heart. It is about money. We need money to relieve the African countries of the debt. Let us stop talking about heart. Let us stop talking about morality. Get them from under the debt. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, to my colleagues, in this country today we have a societal condition of grandparents raising grandchildren. Imagine the situation that exists in Africa, where we have grandparents raising as many as 35 grandchildren. The condition of AIDS in Africa is a security risk. It is an economic issue. It is a workforce issue. It is a global issue. We as a country must step up to the plate and take care of the children of Africa. They, too, are our own children. That epidemic, that disease, can spread worldwide. Next year we will be talking about AIDS in every other country, because we travel so frequently together. Let us resolve this issue. Let us take care of the children. Let us take care of our families, as well, and support this amendment.

Ms. JONES of Ohio

Ms. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 129, which recognizes the importance of education in U.S. History. Last week, we celebrated the 224th birthday of the United States. Within this historic context, this resolution is particularly fitting because throughout American history, education has enabled Americans to embrace opportunity. For African-Americans, literacy was key to ending the bondage of slavery. For Americans of every background, education has been the key to escaping poverty. For this reason, we in Congress bear significant responsibility for increasing support to educational programs, such as Head Start, Title I, Pell Grants and other aid to college students, particularly students who are the first in their families to attend college. We know that disadvantaged students are more likely to drop out of high school and college without completing a degree. Yet, most jobs that pay a living wage now require knowledge of technology and training beyond high school. It is our responsibility as a wealthy nation to provide students with the support needed to graduate, join the economic mainstream and contribute to our national success story. Moreover, in our current consideration of welfare reform, we have seen that targeted education and training can provide a leg up for working poor families to raise earnings and escape poverty. In the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio, Cuyahoga Community College has done an excellent job of reaching out to adults in transition, and in preparing high school students for careers in technology. Around the country, community colleges enable disadvantaged people to realize their own potential and prepare to move into the economic mainstream. The last seven years of prosperity we have enjoyed have not benefited everyone in our society. Education and training are the keys that will fling wide the portals of opportunity. America was founded on the principles of ``Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.'' I salute our American history, and the key role of education to ensure opportunity for all.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on June 22, 23 and 26, 2000, had family commitments and missed rollcall votes 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323 and 324. I ask that the record reflect that had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 315, 316, 317, 318 and 319. Also the record should reflect I would have noted ``no'' on rollcall votes 320, 321, 322, and ``aye'' on rollcall vote 323 and ``no'' on rollcall vote 324.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I again yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word and rise in support of the Kucinich amendment, and I believe it is a forward thinking measure that deserves this Chamber's full support. If passed, the amendment would earmark $500,000 in the FDA portion of the budget to study guidelines for industry on how to assess genetically- engineered food products for allergenicity or for the potential food allergens and report back to Congress by the end of fiscal year 2001. If all that the prior speaker, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), says is true, it seems the gentleman would be supportive of the Kucinich amendment because everything that FDA has done in support of these issues would be met by a study. As was previously stated, it is estimated that 2.5 million to 5 million Americans are allergic to foods such as milk, eggs, fish, seafood, tree nuts, wheat, peanut and soybean, and of all the millions already diagnosed, there are still countless others who do not know they are allergic to foods until they have a reaction which sometimes can be deadly. We must act now to ensure that we understand not only what we eat, but what effect the food we eat has upon us. Again, I rise in support of my colleague's amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the McGovern/Johnson/Udall/Bono/Sanders/Morella/Millender-McDonald amendment. This amendment would increase funding for the National Women's Business Center Program from $8.9 million to the authorized level of $13 million and would increase funding for the National Women's Business Council from $595,000 to $1 million dollars. These funds would provide much needed funds to help secure venture capital, reach the national procurement rate of five percent for women- owned business and complete research projects. The National Women's Business Council, is a bi-partisan Federal government advisory panel which serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, the Congress, and the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise. It advises on economic issues of importance to women business owners. The Council and the Interagency Committee have established an effective public/private sector partnership to promote an economic environment conducive to business growth and development for women- owned businesses and have focused on expanding opportunities, collecting research, strengthening technical assistance and the networking infrastructure, and improving access to capital. Although women-owned businesses are among the fastest growing business sectors, women's access to capital continues to lag behind men. Currently, over 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. generate over $3.6 trillion in sales and employ 27.5 million workers. Women's Business Centers offer training and counseling programs designed to educate, empower, and assist individuals in improving their lives through entrepreneurship. In the Eleventh Congressional District, the Glenville Development Corporation provides long-term training to low and moderate-income women to assist them in business development. The organization W.O.M.E.N. (Women's Organization for Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, & Networking) in Akron, Ohio, also provides services to the Eleventh Congressional District. These centers have provided essential support for many women entrepreneurs which would not otherwise be accessible. With the funding offered in this amendment, the centers' good work, and the work of many other organizations will be able to continue. I urge strong support of this amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4635, the VA-HUD Independent Agencies appropriations bill. I stand opposed to this bill because the American people cannot stand here today and demand to be heard. I stand opposed to the bill's funding levels because, in the midst of economic prosperity for many, others have been left out of the process. We must provide hope with support for children, families and communities suffering all across this Nation. I cannot support this bill that turns its back on the affordable housing crisis in America. I cannot support a bill that overlooks 5.3 million households, or 12.5 million Americans, with serious housing needs. Moreover, with the average waiting period for Section 8 vouchers or public housing units being over 2 years, we cannot afford to wait. We must provide relief to this ever growing problem. We must provide increased funding not only for affordable housing and public housing but for elderly housing as well. CDBG, the Community Development Block Grants, were developed for those with low to moderate incomes. Since 1974, CDBG has been the backbone of communities. It has provided a flexible source of grant funds for local governments to devote particular development projects and priorities. I am tired of hearing about Wall Street's prosperity. Let us see a little prosperity running down East 105th Street in Cleveland, which is in my district. This bill cuts progress that would come to communities via Community Development Block Grant funds. Within CDBG, this bill cuts $44 million from Section 108 loan authority, cuts every community development program, and also cuts $275 million from last year's CDBG funding level. Let us talk about homeownership and affordable housing. Housing and expanding homeownership is of great concern to the 11th Congressional District. We must find solutions to provide affordable housing for all. H.R. 4635 does not get us there. This bill cuts the President's housing request by more than $2 billion. This reduction denies the request for 120,000 new rental assistance vouchers, has a $78 million cut in elderly and disabled housing, and a $28 million cut in providing housing assistance for people with HIV/AIDS. Shame on this Congress if we do not provide the necessary aid for those who need it most. In addition to neglecting housing, economic development is forgotten as well, for this bill provides zero funding for empowerment zones, zero funding for APIC loan guarantees, cuts in the New Markets Initiative, and a 20 percent cut in funding for Brownfields redevelopment. This appropriations bill is a reverse Robin Hood. Yes, it robs neighborhoods all over this Nation. It robs communities that use CDBG funds for child care, Meals on Wheels, and other community programs. If we want to expand homeownership opportunities, let us do it the right way. Include funding for HOME funding, which funds low- downpayment homeownership programs and affordable housing construction. This bill cuts HOME funding by $65 million. Let us fund housing counseling, which helps in the fight against the growing problem of predatory lending. This is counseling which is needed across this country as the predators continue to prey on low-income persons who really need counseling advice. What is the reality here? The reality is that this appropriation bill does an injustice to Americans all over this Nation who need help. We cannot continue on this road of denial and neglect. We cannot in clear conscience support H.R. 4635 and then move to the upcoming celebration of independence on July 4, for there are people who are still not free: Homeless persons, those without decent housing and living conditions, and those living in deteriorating communities. We must never forget the words inscribed at the Statute of Liberty: ``Bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'' Let us breathe free by being a just Congress, a just House of Representatives, a House of the people, by the people and for the people. Support housing, support community development, support the elderly. Oppose H.R. 4635.