John Kerry

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that would transfer the YouthBuild program from its current home in the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Labor. Transferring departmental jurisdiction over this program will help ensure that Youthbuild continues to receive the funds it needs to help unemployed and undereducated young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. It is supported by the YouthBuild Coalition. Poverty, neglect, abuse, and deprivation of all kinds can prevent people from reaching their true potential. Many of those who have fallen off track, suffered losses, and made mistakes can recover. If given the opportunity, they can learn to cope with obstacles and care effectively about themselves, their families and their communities. YouthBuild helps young people who have lost their way to turn their lives around. YouthBuild is a uniquely comprehensive program that offers at-risk youth an immediate productive role rebuilding their communities. While attending basic education classes for 50 percent of program time, students also receive job skills training in the construction field, personal counseling from respected mentors, a supportive peer group with positive values, and experience in civic engagement. They build houses for homeless and low-income people while earning their own GED or high school diploma. YouthBuild is built on success. The first YouthBuild program was created in 1978. At that time, YouthBuild's future founder, Dorothy Stoneman, formed the Youth Action Program to rebuild homes in New York City. The successful renovation of an East Harlem tenement led to a city-wide coalition and in 1990, led to YouthBuild USA, an organization created to replicate this program around the Nation. In 1992, I introduced legislation which was enacted into law as part of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, authorizing federal funding for YouthBuild through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In its first 10 years of Federal funding, YouthBuild has demonstrated the ability to bring the most disadvantaged youth into productive employment, higher education, and civic engagement. Since 1994, more than 40,000 YouthBuild students have helped rebuild their communities, creating more than 12,000 units of affordable housing, while transforming their lives at the same time. YouthBuild has earned majority bipartisan support for Federal funding in the Senate due to its great success in local communities. Today there are 226 YouthBuild programs in 44 States engaging 7,000 young adults. The number of programs could easily be expanded. Last year alone, 260 communities were denied YouthBuild funding. The programs that exist could easily grow. In 2004, local programs turned away 10,000 applicants solely for lack of funds. The expansion of YouthBuild would help address critical national problems: the construction industry is short 80,000 workers; over 500,000 youth are dropping out of high school every year with no prospects of becoming gainfully employed; states are spending huge amounts on prisons, housing 365,000 16 to 24 year olds, 65 percent of whom have dropped out of high school. Consider this story of success: Manny Negron grew up in New Britain, CT. He left school during his Sophomore year after having some personal problems. He started selling drugs and getting into trouble. Then he joined YouthBuild, obtained a GED and learned more about the construction industry. ``Before YouthBuild, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.'' Manny said. ``I had no goals, no plans--I had nothing. If it was a weekend when I was partying and in the street, I had no plans. Now it's completely different and YouthBuild did that for me. Now that I'm away from all that, I actually see a future for myself and see what I'm capable of and what I can do with my life.'' Research on 900 YouthBuild graduates several years after program completion showed that 75 percent were employed at an average wage of $10/hour or in college. They were voting and paying taxes. Of those who had committed felonies, the recidivism rate was a strikingly low, 15 percent. The legislation I am introducing today responds to the Bush administration's attempt to move YouthBuild from HUD to DoL in its FY 2006 budget request. I did not agree with the Administration attempt to transfer YouthBuild in the budget; it was simply the wrong approach. However, my staff has met with Administration officials, with YouthBuild and with YouthBuild's strong supporters. And I believe that we can find a way to do this, and I appreciate that the Administration has shown a willingness to work with us so far. If done properly, I transferring YouthBuild from HUD to DoL could increase YouthBuild's scope, helping it to reach the communities and young people that are currently denied access due to a lack of funds. This legislation not only authorizes the transfer of YouthBuild from HUD to DoL, but also allows unlimited future federal funding, continues centralized management at DoL and continues the historic role of YouthBuild USA as the partner and contractor for quality assurance. This legislation is an attempt to help move the process of transferring the YouthBuild program forward. I look forward to working with Senators Enzi and Kennedy, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to develop compromise legislation that will ensure that YouthBuild continues to assist young people around the nation. I ask that all my colleagues support this legislation and continue to support the YouthBuild.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that would transfer the YouthBuild program from its current home in the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Labor. Transferring departmental jurisdiction over this program will help ensure that Youthbuild continues to receive the funds it needs to help unemployed and undereducated young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. It is supported by the YouthBuild Coalition. Poverty, neglect, abuse, and deprivation of all kinds can prevent people from reaching their true potential. Many of those who have fallen off track, suffered losses, and made mistakes can recover. If given the opportunity, they can learn to cope with obstacles and care effectively about themselves, their families and their communities. YouthBuild helps young people who have lost their way to turn their lives around. YouthBuild is a uniquely comprehensive program that offers at-risk youth an immediate productive role rebuilding their communities. While attending basic education classes for 50 percent of program time, students also receive job skills training in the construction field, personal counseling from respected mentors, a supportive peer group with positive values, and experience in civic engagement. They build houses for homeless and low-income people while earning their own GED or high school diploma. YouthBuild is built on success. The first YouthBuild program was created in 1978. At that time, YouthBuild's future founder, Dorothy Stoneman, formed the Youth Action Program to rebuild homes in New York City. The successful renovation of an East Harlem tenement led to a city-wide coalition and in 1990, led to YouthBuild USA, an organization created to replicate this program around the Nation. In 1992, I introduced legislation which was enacted into law as part of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, authorizing federal funding for YouthBuild through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In its first 10 years of Federal funding, YouthBuild has demonstrated the ability to bring the most disadvantaged youth into productive employment, higher education, and civic engagement. Since 1994, more than 40,000 YouthBuild students have helped rebuild their communities, creating more than 12,000 units of affordable housing, while transforming their lives at the same time. YouthBuild has earned majority bipartisan support for Federal funding in the Senate due to its great success in local communities. Today there are 226 YouthBuild programs in 44 States engaging 7,000 young adults. The number of programs could easily be expanded. Last year alone, 260 communities were denied YouthBuild funding. The programs that exist could easily grow. In 2004, local programs turned away 10,000 applicants solely for lack of funds. The expansion of YouthBuild would help address critical national problems: the construction industry is short 80,000 workers; over 500,000 youth are dropping out of high school every year with no prospects of becoming gainfully employed; states are spending huge amounts on prisons, housing 365,000 16 to 24 year olds, 65 percent of whom have dropped out of high school. Consider this story of success: Manny Negron grew up in New Britain, CT. He left school during his Sophomore year after having some personal problems. He started selling drugs and getting into trouble. Then he joined YouthBuild, obtained a GED and learned more about the construction industry. ``Before YouthBuild, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.'' Manny said. ``I had no goals, no plans--I had nothing. If it was a weekend when I was partying and in the street, I had no plans. Now it's completely different and YouthBuild did that for me. Now that I'm away from all that, I actually see a future for myself and see what I'm capable of and what I can do with my life.'' Research on 900 YouthBuild graduates several years after program completion showed that 75 percent were employed at an average wage of $10/hour or in college. They were voting and paying taxes. Of those who had committed felonies, the recidivism rate was a strikingly low, 15 percent. The legislation I am introducing today responds to the Bush administration's attempt to move YouthBuild from HUD to DoL in its FY 2006 budget request. I did not agree with the Administration attempt to transfer YouthBuild in the budget; it was simply the wrong approach. However, my staff has met with Administration officials, with YouthBuild and with YouthBuild's strong supporters. And I believe that we can find a way to do this, and I appreciate that the Administration has shown a willingness to work with us so far. If done properly, I transferring YouthBuild from HUD to DoL could increase YouthBuild's scope, helping it to reach the communities and young people that are currently denied access due to a lack of funds. This legislation not only authorizes the transfer of YouthBuild from HUD to DoL, but also allows unlimited future federal funding, continues centralized management at DoL and continues the historic role of YouthBuild USA as the partner and contractor for quality assurance. This legislation is an attempt to help move the process of transferring the YouthBuild program forward. I look forward to working with Senators Enzi and Kennedy, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to develop compromise legislation that will ensure that YouthBuild continues to assist young people around the nation. I ask that all my colleagues support this legislation and continue to support the YouthBuild.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I proudly join as a cosponsor of Senator Obama's Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2005. This important legislation will protect voters from the deceptive practices that aimed to keep them from the polls on election day. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy--a democracy built on the unassailable principle that every single American should have an equal say in their government. No American should ever approach their polling place in fear. No American should ever worry that they will somehow be penalized for exercising their fundamental right to vote. No American should ever be tricked into thinking they do not have the right to vote. The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevent Act takes great strides towards ensuring that no American will ever be denied the right to vote. It both criminalizes deceptive practices and provides affected individuals with a private right of action. It prevents the negative effects of deceptive practices by ensuring voters get accurate election information. It also requires the Attorney General to report allegations of deceptive practices, the actions taken to correct them, and any prosecutions resulting from those allegations. We have worked hard to bring fair and free elections to people around the word-including the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. We must do everything in our power to ensure that our own elections are at least as fair and as free.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I wanted to ask the Senator from South Carolina if he would object to a unanimous consent that we allow Senator Rockefeller and Senator Roberts to take 5 minutes to introduce a modification, and then to stack the votes and have the vote on that amendment prior to his on the unanimous consent order.

Mr. KERRY. It would be difficult. I think it would take 5 minutes to handle what we have to do.

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I do not think we need to get hung up on this at all. I think the unanimous consent request was absolutely correct in the order it proceeded. We simply now have to agree that Senators Rockefeller and Roberts would have a total of 5 minutes between them, and subsequently Senator Graham and Senator Bingaman would follow with their 15 minutes, approximately, and the votes would follow immediately thereafter.

Mr. KERRY. The order would be that Senator Rockefeller and Senator Roberts would introduce the modification on his amendment, at which point the debate would conclude with respect to the Kerry amendment. We would vote on the Kerry amendment prior to the Graham amendment, and then subsequently his unanimous consent request, as propounded, already would stand.

Mr. KERRY. Can we have that?

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I will just take 1 minute. I thank Senator Rockefeller and Senator Roberts for their cooperation in this effort and Senator Warner and Senator Levin for helping to proceed down the road here. We are happy to accept the modification, a modification that I think appropriately keeps the jurisdiction within the Intelligence Committee, but at the same time it also appropriately makes certain that the Senate will have the information necessary to be able to provide accountability with respect to these activities. So I thank my colleagues and look forward to the vote. I hope my colleagues will overwhelmingly embrace this amendment. I thank Senator Bingaman and Senator Graham for their courtesy. Mr. President, I yield back any time we have. Amendment No. 2515

Mr. KERRY. Could we have an agreement now that we would modify the amendment as submitted so that it is a second degree, not a substitute, but simply a second degree?

Mr. KERRY. Is it my understanding that upon the disposition of the next amendment, this will be the pending business?

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able to reserve the time on my amendment, but that we set the amendment aside and proceed immediately to the second-degree amendment of Senator Roberts and Senator Rockefeller.

Mr. KERRY. We would simply modify the title ``substitute.'' We are not changing any of the substance of what we have agreed on, nor will it change the procedure which we are going to follow. This amendment, with respect to the Intelligence Committee, will be disposed of separately, freestanding now. But if we don't change the title of the substitute, then the Senator from Delaware is closed out, and we don't have the right to amend it. This is a technicality.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, our Nation is mourning the recent loss of an icon in this country's civil rights movement and a true national hero, Ms. Rosa Parks. Today, along with Senators Obama, Levin, Stabenow, Kennedy, Corzine and Smith, I am introducing legislation to honor the memory of Rosa Parks by placing her statue in the United States Capitol. This will help future generations understand her efforts to increase equality in the United States. When I met Rosa Parks, I was overwhelmed by this graceful, small woman's quiet strength and humility--her conviction in taking on the army of power that was deployed before her--her courage to dig in, knowing full well the power of the courthouse, the power of the sheriff's badge, the power of the vigilante, the power of the establishment--knowing that on dark country roads or after a knock on the door in the middle of the night, people still disappeared and died almost anonymous deaths. So many were killed just trying to be citizens in the land of the free. Rosa Parks reminded many and taught even more how to speak the truth to power. In an era when these words are thrown around too easily, she lived the words `courage' and `patriot'--she loved the dream of our country more than herself, and she was willing to risk it all to live the dream. In the struggle for civil rights, some were called to stand up to Bull Connor's fire hoses and police dogs--some to stand up to Klan terrorism--and some to stand up to state sponsored acts of violence. But some were called simply to sit down--at lunch counters in Greensboro and Nashville and Atlanta--or on a bus in Montgomery. Ms. Parks' dedication to civil rights has had an impact on the lives of all Americans. Her act of courage on December 1, 1955 inspired a movement that eventually brought about laws to end segregation, ensure voting rights, end discrimination in housing, and create a greater equality throughout this Nation. Thanks to Rosa Parks, a path was forged for future generations to encourage freedom and social justice. Her legacy of courage and commitment plays an important role each time our Nation acts for equality and justice, and most of all, in the hope for a better America. If just one woman was able to do all this, then how much greater the responsibility is for those of us with privilege and power who pay tribute to her today. The life of Rosa Parks demands deeds, not epitaphs. Our final words cannot be spoken or written while her cause is still unfinished. No simple words can match what she did in that sacred moment on a municipal bus in Montgomery, Alabama. What matters now is what we do after the candles are quenched, the speeches have been exhausted, and the next bus comes by. I am grateful for the opportunity to join my colleagues in this body, as well as those in the House of Representatives, to honor the legacy of this graceful, humble, and courageous woman who embodies the American spirit. If this legislation is adopted, when our children and our grandchildren visit the United States Capitol, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the women who risked so much for their freedom. Ms. Parks belongs among the other great leaders that have shaped this country and made the world a better place. Sometimes the days seem heavy and the odds seem high, but that moment on a bus in Montgomery always comes. Someone gets on that bus, refuses to equivocate or yield and changes history. Today, that someone must be us, for Rosa Parks and for our country. The bus still comes by again and again and each time we have to decide whether to go quietly to the back, or by simple acts of courage and conviction, change the direction of our own country's journey. A statue of Rosa Parks in the Capitol can help future Senators and Congressmen find the courage necessary to make sure our Nation takes the right course in the future. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, our Nation is mourning the recent loss of an icon in this country's civil rights movement and a true national hero, Ms. Rosa Parks. Today, along with Senators Obama, Levin, Stabenow, Kennedy, Corzine and Smith, I am introducing legislation to honor the memory of Rosa Parks by placing her statue in the United States Capitol. This will help future generations understand her efforts to increase equality in the United States. When I met Rosa Parks, I was overwhelmed by this graceful, small woman's quiet strength and humility--her conviction in taking on the army of power that was deployed before her--her courage to dig in, knowing full well the power of the courthouse, the power of the sheriff's badge, the power of the vigilante, the power of the establishment--knowing that on dark country roads or after a knock on the door in the middle of the night, people still disappeared and died almost anonymous deaths. So many were killed just trying to be citizens in the land of the free. Rosa Parks reminded many and taught even more how to speak the truth to power. In an era when these words are thrown around too easily, she lived the words `courage' and `patriot'--she loved the dream of our country more than herself, and she was willing to risk it all to live the dream. In the struggle for civil rights, some were called to stand up to Bull Connor's fire hoses and police dogs--some to stand up to Klan terrorism--and some to stand up to state sponsored acts of violence. But some were called simply to sit down--at lunch counters in Greensboro and Nashville and Atlanta--or on a bus in Montgomery. Ms. Parks' dedication to civil rights has had an impact on the lives of all Americans. Her act of courage on December 1, 1955 inspired a movement that eventually brought about laws to end segregation, ensure voting rights, end discrimination in housing, and create a greater equality throughout this Nation. Thanks to Rosa Parks, a path was forged for future generations to encourage freedom and social justice. Her legacy of courage and commitment plays an important role each time our Nation acts for equality and justice, and most of all, in the hope for a better America. If just one woman was able to do all this, then how much greater the responsibility is for those of us with privilege and power who pay tribute to her today. The life of Rosa Parks demands deeds, not epitaphs. Our final words cannot be spoken or written while her cause is still unfinished. No simple words can match what she did in that sacred moment on a municipal bus in Montgomery, Alabama. What matters now is what we do after the candles are quenched, the speeches have been exhausted, and the next bus comes by. I am grateful for the opportunity to join my colleagues in this body, as well as those in the House of Representatives, to honor the legacy of this graceful, humble, and courageous woman who embodies the American spirit. If this legislation is adopted, when our children and our grandchildren visit the United States Capitol, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the women who risked so much for their freedom. Ms. Parks belongs among the other great leaders that have shaped this country and made the world a better place. Sometimes the days seem heavy and the odds seem high, but that moment on a bus in Montgomery always comes. Someone gets on that bus, refuses to equivocate or yield and changes history. Today, that someone must be us, for Rosa Parks and for our country. The bus still comes by again and again and each time we have to decide whether to go quietly to the back, or by simple acts of courage and conviction, change the direction of our own country's journey. A statue of Rosa Parks in the Capitol can help future Senators and Congressmen find the courage necessary to make sure our Nation takes the right course in the future. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, while I recognize there are good things in this bill, today I will be voting against the Agriculture appropriations conference report for two primary reasons. One, it delays the implementation of the country- of-origin labeling for beef and other foods. U.S. consumers deserve to know where their food is grown and processed, and domestic producers deserve the opportunity to differentiate their products from foreign imports. While mandatory country-of-origin food labeling passed as part of the 2002 farm law, its implementation continues to be delayed and this bill would delay it an additional 2 years. My other primary concern is that the bill cuts funding for many important conservation programs, such as the Conservation Security Program. Since the farm bill was enacted in 2002, the USDA conservation programs have taken hits year after year. They have been used repeatedly as a source of offsets to fund other needs. Including this conference report, the annual appropriations measures from fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2006 have cut $1.13 billion in mandatory funds that we dedicated to conservation in the farm bill. I appreciate the hard work of the chairman and the ranking member, but what came back from the House is not good for our Nation's farmers, it is not good for consumers, and it is not good for conservation. I will, therefore, be voting against it.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, we must not lose sight of the devastating humanitarian crisis in Darfur, where some 3000,000 people were killed in the genocide and almost 2 million more forced into displacement camps. While some progress has been made in ending large scale attacks by government forces, daily attacks against civilians and aid workers continue in a climate of lawlessness, and the Khartoum government still has not reined in the Janjaweed militia. Given these circumstances, I remain concerned that the administration has not done enough to bring about a peace agreement in the region. The African Union soldiers sent to Darfur to date have made some progress in providing much needed protection. However, their mandate and current personnel levels are not sufficient to keep the civilians and aid workers safe. America and the international community should work to ensure that the African Union is able to get more peacekeepers into place, with an expanded mandate that allows them to complete their important work. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a Christian Science Monitor article from October 25, 2005 describing the current problems Darfur and providing some sensible proposals to solve them.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have a recent speech I delivered on Iraq printed in the Record.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask the pending amendment be set aside and amendment No. 2216 be called up.

Mr. KERRY. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, very quickly, this is an amendment that makes clear as we gather this gigantic database of information, medical information, that we apply the same privacy rights to that information we have applied with respect to banking information, so if indeed it were either hacked or there were a theft or loss of that information, any individual whose information is contained therein would be notified so they would be aware of it and able to take any steps necessary to protect themselves. I thank the distinguished chairman and ranking member for being willing to accept this amendment.

Mr. KERRY

Mr. KERRY. It passed the Senate 96 to 0.

Mr. KERRY. This is the Katrina small business hurricane relief and reconstruction bill. What is it? It is S. 1807.

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, the administration has set up two major pieces of relief for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, totaling $62 billion, but not one penny of that $62 billion is designated for small business, even though there are several hundred thousand small businesses that are in need of relief in the region. Only 84 out of some 20,000-plus requests--only 84 requests--for loans or grants have been approved by the Small Business Administration. So this is becoming an incredibly backed-up, serious restraint on the ability of small businesses to get back on their feet in the injured areas. I know Senator Snowe is deeply concerned about it. I know a lot of colleagues are very deeply concerned about this. Is there a way we could try next week to break this out? It has passed 96 to 0 here in the Senate. We desperately need to get this help to those businesses in the communities.