Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our Chair, Mr. Rangel, and our ranking member for the hard work that they've done on this legislation. It gives me great pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3648) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income, and for other purposes.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our chairman, Mr. Rangel, for allowing me to manage this bill because he knows that in Ohio, the foreclosure epidemic has gone from bad to worse, with new cases growing by nearly 24 percent from 2005. Another colleague of mine on this great committee, in my same class, I yield 2 minutes to Mr. Larson of Connecticut.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. It gives me great pleasure at this time to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke). She is a freshman in Congress and has been a leader in working on a lot of issues, particularly this one; and I yield to her particularly because this bill expands some of the coverages for cooperative housing corporations which I am confident is an issue for the gentlelady from Brooklyn.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Brady, we're happy you got a wake-up call. Maybe you could bring us a few other Members over here to our side. It gives me great pleasure to recognize now my colleague and good friend from the committee, Mr. Blumenauer, for 2 minutes.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I join with my colleague to say I hope that at some point we will be able to extend this so it has no sunsetting provisions. I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to submit remarks for the Record.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, almost all of us dream of a day when we can have a place of our own. For most Americans, buying a home is the single best investment they will ever make. It is the first step to building wealth and can provide financial leverage for a family for a variety of things, including starting a business or funding an education. Therefore, we must put safeguards in place to ensure that people are able to keep their homes and not be thrown into further debt. That is one reason why I am pleased to rise in support of this piece of legislation that will allow taxpayers to exclude from their income debt that which was forgiven by a financial institution or lender. We cannot sit by as Congress and add insult to injury to our most vulnerable taxpayers. That is why I am so pleased to stand with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in support of this very strong legislation in support of the American people. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding the time. We who believe in freedom cannot rest. We who believe in freedom cannot rest. And today we who believe in freedom must stand up on behalf of the people of Darfur. It is a wonderful opportunity that we have through Senate 2271 authorizing State and local governments to divest assets in companies that conduct business operations in Sudan. While I want to celebrate the work of the Senate, I must celebrate the work of my colleagues here in the House who have been really carrying this heavy load and pushing folks to move forward on this legislation, to the Chair, to the ranking member, to my good friend, Barbara Lee, who is always stepping up and saying, if we believe in freedom we must step out and make a difference in our communities across the world. As we fight terrorism, and make no mistake about it, the violence in Sudan is akin to what happened in Rwanda and Serbia in recent decades, this is a form of terrorism and genocide. We turned our backs on those populations then, but we must assume responsibility now. The bill would prohibit the United States Government from contracting with companies that engage in business in Sudan. The American dollar should not be put to use to enforce instability and slaughter of civilians. This legislation also authorizes States, local government and universities to prohibit new contracts with such companies. It provides safe harbor to mutual funds and pension plans choosing to divest their assets and prohibits the Federal Government from entering into new contracts. I have already said that. But I really want also to take the time to thank many of the organizations across this country who have stood up on our behalf. Specifically, the work of the Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, the NAACP, American Jewish World Service, the National Association of Evangelicals, and especially the Genocide Intervention Network and the Sudan Divestment Task Force. Lastly, I want to say that all 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus were signatories to this legislation. This is a piece of legislation that was a priority for the Congressional Black Caucus under the leadership of our Chair, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and we are so proud we have stood so tall and fought this good fight. And, as I said at the beginning: We who believe in freedom cannot rest. We who believe in freedom cannot rest, and we cannot rest until the people of Darfur are taken care of and we are looking out for them and their babies just like we look after our own.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time, I yield to Representative Peter Visclosky, who is the dean of the Democrat delegation of Indiana.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time, I yield to the Chair of the Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, who is the Chair of the committee that Julia served upon.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield time now to Mr. Buyer, a member of the Indiana delegation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I want to comment as well that I want to remember Julia Carson because she was a fantastic dresser. She was always immaculately dressed, all kinds of wonderful outfits. And I always think about how great she used to look as she came on the floor. At this time, I yield time to my colleague and good friend from the great State of North Carolina, a former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Mel Watt.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, in her remarks during Rosa Parks' memorial service, Representative Carson said, I'm a sister from the hood and we know how to get things done. Well, from one sister to another sister I want to say, Thank you, Julia Carson, for your legacy of service, for your laughter and your love. I promise I will continue to work to get things done right here in the House, and I will remember all the things that you told me in the last conversations that we had. But Julia, I'm still trying to figure out who it was you said was going to invite me to dinner. I asked you that day I came to see you, and you still wouldn't tell me. So whoever it is, come on and invite me to dinner, because Julia Carson would want it to happen. I thank all of my colleagues for joining me in this wonderful hour of celebration for my colleague and good friend, Julia Carson.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time it gives me pleasure to yield to my colleague and good friend from California, Barbara Lee.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Carol and I will remember that Julia kept saying to us, look out for Andre. She loved her son and daughter, but she loved that grandson, Andre Carson. It gives me great pleasure at this time to yield time to Joe Donnelly, a member of the Indiana delegation.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time I'd like to yield to the majority leader, Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time I'd like to yield time to my colleague and good friend from California, Diane Watson.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this time to yield time to the Speaker of the House, the gentlelady from California, Nancy Pelosi.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this time to yield time to another colleague from California, the gentlelady, Maxine Waters.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, we are at a critical juncture in our nation as we attempt to find solutions to the growing scourge of youth violence. In October of this year a student shot four others and eventually himself at SuccessTech Academy in my congressional district in Cleveland. Earlier this year Seung-Hui Cho, a Virginia Tech student who in April killed 32 students and faculty before shooting himself to death. And most recently, a teenager with an assault rifle opens fire on holiday shoppers in a department store in middle America. Over the past ten years more than 60 shooting incidents have occurred in our nation's schools. These incidents have occurred all over the country. While some thought Columbine was an aberration, it has become clear that this is a serious and growing problem in our country that must be addressed. It is important to point out that in the late 80's and early 90's when overall crime was going down, youth and young adult arrest rates were increasing. We must ask ourselves why. What makes a 14-year old feel so disengaged from society that he wants to shoot others and himself? When do we stop allowing the broad distribution of firearms under cover of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms? When do we start to recognize that youth with mental illnesses must be treated as at-risk? Where is the breakdown in the moral fabric that used to hold our society together? America is looking to Congress to come up with comprehensive solutions. We must begin to deal with this problem on three levels: in the community, within our families and on an individual level. As adults, we must take a greater interest in the lives of our children. When I was a child, not only were my parents looking out for me, but the entire neighborhood served as my surrogate mothers and fathers. If I was out in the street doing something I wasn't supposed to, not only would I get chastised by my parents, but everyone in the community would get on my case. At the time it may have seemed harsh, but I now realize it was done out of love. We must take the same approach with our children today. Many of the children who committed these heinous acts showed signs of emotional disturbance prior to the incident. I have to wonder if we as adults and even their peers in school were paying closer attention, could these tragedies have been prevented. It is time for us as members of Congress to take a serious look at this issue and determine how we can provide support to parents, teachers and our communities as a whole in ending the rampant youth violence that has become so prevalent in our society.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that once again we have a responsible solution to the alternative minimum tax from a broad, policy-oriented perspective. The alternative minimum tax is a critical issue for the American middle class taxpayer who does not get to take advantage of sophisticated tax planning and legal loopholes in the tax code. It is time that we addressed this issue once and for all to relieve the American taxpayer from the agony of dealing with the AMT. A permanent fix is what we really need, but today we have to plug the dike once again. It is particularly ironic that a tax that was meant for 155 wealthy individuals has become the bane of existence for millions of American taxpayers. Indeed the AMT has become a menace. Over seven thousand hardworking Ohioans in my district had the grim task of filing a return with AMT implications in the 2005 tax year. Those are families with children, healthcare costs, unemployment issues, housing costs and the other money matters with which American taxpayers must cope. Tax relief is due. As I mentioned after the introduction of H.R. 2834, we must continue to laud the efforts of American capitalists and the strides that they make in enhancing and creating liquidity in our capital markets, and helping our economy grow into the dynamic force that it is today. I am also aware of the critical role that offshore hedge funds play in asset management. But we must also have responsible budget offsets. The tenets of sound tax policy begin with the notions of equity, efficiency and simplicity. Relying on that traditional framework I am sure that we have come to a rational consensus that will ensure 21 million Americans will not be hit with the AMT. ``Taxes are what we pay to live in civilized society,'' but dealing with the AMT has become a bit uncivil.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise in celebration of the life of my dear friend Verice M. Mason who passed away December 2, 2007 at the age of 55. A native of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, Verice resided in Washington, DC prior to moving to Metuchen, New Jersey 30 years ago. A 1970 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, Verice would go on to obtain her undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and later her law degree from Rutgers School of Law in Newark. Verice had a long and distinguished professional career. She served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for MDAdvantage Insurance Company, responsible for all legal and regulatory matters for the company. Prior to joining MDAdvantage, Verice was appointed chief of the Authorities unit in the Governor's Counsel Office in 2004 by Governor Richard J. Cody, where she represented the Governor's interests and served as his liaison to over 40 authorities, boards and commissions. Other positions held by Verice include Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the MIIX Group, Inc., partner in New Jersey's office of Peterson, and assistant commissioner for the office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the New Jersey Department of Insurance. Verice was extremely involved in her community. She was previously active in the Metuchen-Edison Branch of the NAACP and received the NAACP Honorable Barbara Jordan Community Activist Award. She served as both treasurer and co-president of the Metuchen Parent-Teacher Council and treasurer of the Citizens for Quality Education. She was a trustee of the Metuchen Education Foundation. She was also a member of the Second Baptist Church of Metuchen. I first met Verice Mason at Case Western Reserve University in the early 1970's. I was a house mother and she was a student. She had a wonderful zest for life. We were both active in the African American Society and she was very instrumental in helping other black students adjust to life on a predominantly white college campus. She and her college roommate Joan Brooks set a loving example of sisterhood that we all strived to emulate. On behalf of the Congress of the United States and the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Verice Mason including her husband Mark, two sons Matthew and Mark and her father Matthew. May her legacy of love live on in our hearts.