Carolyn Kilpatrick

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I listened carefully to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Ehlers]; and I, too, agree that this is a very worthy cause, printing of educational materials, for citizens throughout America. So, Mr. Speaker, I too support this initiative. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, with that, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, believe that this is valuable legislation before us. Any time a citizen of America would want to donate to the better good of this country, we all would welcome that. Certainly we do in this instance.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2616, the Charter Schools Act of 1997. This program, begun as a Federal grant to provide seed funds for public charter schools just 3 years ago, is a waste of taxpayer funds, does nothing for the 90 percent of school children who are in public schools, and is a further drain upon the scant resources that our public school now have. As a former public school teacher, I believe in our public schools because our public schools work. What is truly needed is comprehensive, holistic school reform, not piecemeal, politically expedient solutions. We all agree that our public schools need to be reformed. But we must first consider any and all changes to our charter schools as part of a comprehensive, complete review of all of our public school education programs. This review must take into consideration the fact that many of our Nation's public schools are in need of significant repair. The changes that this legislation proposes does little to improve upon the quality of not just public schools, but charter schools. There is woefully little strengthening of the oversight and accountability of our charter schools in H.R. 2616. In the House Committee on Education and the Workforce report on H.R. 2616, ``it was recently reported by the Michigan Department of Education that charter schools in its State posted substantially lower scores than other public schools on State assessment tests.'' If charter schools in Michigan are not working better than the regular public schools, where is the investment in education of our taxpayer's dollars? It is ironic that while Congress has not approved legislation that will address our overcrowded and dilapidated schools, we want to expand charter schools. In summary, I support the complete and comprehensive overhaul of our Nation's public schools. I cannot support initiatives designed to further siphon off the scarce resources for our Nation's public schools, and that is why I am voting against this bill on final passage.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proudly introduce the Health Care Access Improvement Act, legislation that will provide a $1,000 per month tax credit over 5 years for primary health care providers who are located or will establish practices in health professional shortage areas. These urban and rural underserved areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA]. In our Nation, there are 2,686 primary medical care, 960 dental and 518 mental health areas that are underserved, according to the latest list of designated sites issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. This list was published in the Friday, May 30, 1997 edition of the Federal Register at page 29396. This information is also available via the Internet at http://www.bphc.hrsa.dhhs.gov. While we do not have a shortage of doctors in our country, Mr. Speaker, we do have a shortage of doctors who are either willing or can afford to locate in certain areas. I want to tkank my colleagues, Representatives Danny Davis of Illinois, Darlene Hooley, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Mike McIntyre, Juanita Millender-McDonald, Ron Paul, Max Sandlin, and Edolphus Towns, who are original cosponsors of this bill and who recognize the need for Congress to provide an incentive for doctors to locate in these underserved areas. In short, this bill will: Provide current and future health care providers with a tax credit.-- Those few doctors who are currently established in underserved areas, as well as those who relocate to these areas, would receive a tax credit of $1,000 per month over 5 years. The Health Care Access Improvement Act would help current and future primary health care providers. Help doctors establish long-term relationships with the community.-- This tax credit provides a long-term solution by enabling doctors to establish health care practices in poor areas. Unlike Public Health Service doctors, who rotate through community facilities, private doctors invest their own time, energy and money to open a practice in a community. Such an investment means that these doctors become an integral part of the community, and highly unlikely to leave. The Health Care Access Improvement Act gives primary health care providers an incentive to stay in the community. Expand access to health care to more people.--This tax credit would be the most cost-effective way to establish health care practitioners in those areas where people do not have access to health care. More people would be able to go to their neighborhood doctors or dentist. The Health Care Access Improvement Act gives more urban and rural people choice in health care. Preventive health care has been proven to save lives and money. The very first bill that I cosponsored as a Member of Congress related to improving health care, and I have sponsored several health care seminars and forums in the 15th Congressional District of Michigan. Access to more doctors will go a long way toward ensuring that all of our constituents have high quality health care. The Health Care Access Improvement Act is but a small step in the direction of health care equality and improved access for all. While no cost has been determined for this bill as of today's date, I will ensure that it will meet the requirements of offsetting cuts to provide for its implementation.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, I hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Whereas, Loretta Sanchez was issued a certificate of election as the duly elected Member of Congress from the 46th District of California by the Secretary of State of California and was seated by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 1997; and Whereas A Notice of Contest of Election was filed with the Clerk of the House by Mr. Robert Dornan on December 26, 1996; and Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California met on February 26, 1997 in Washington, DC on April 19, 1997 in Orange County, California and October 24, 1997 in Washington, DC; and Whereas the allegations made by Mr. Robert Dornan have been largely found to be without merit: charges of improper voting from a business, rather than a resident address; underage voting; double voting; and charges of unusually large number of individuals voting from the same address. It was found that voting from the same address included a Marines barracks and the domicile of nuns, that business addresses were legal residences for the individuals, including the zoo keeper of the Santa Ana zoo, that duplicate voting was by different individuals and those accused of underage voting were of age; and Whereas The Committee on House Oversight has issued unprecedented subpoenas to the Immigration and Naturalization Service to compare their records with Orange County voter registration records, the first time in any election in the history of the United States that the INS has been asked by Congress to verify the citizenship of voters; and Whereas the INS has complied with the Committee's request and, at the Committee's request, has been doing a manual check of its paper files and providing worksheets containing supplemental information on that manual check to the Committee on House Oversight for over five months; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight, subpoenaed the records seized by the District Attorney of Orange County on February 13, 1997 and has received and reviewed all records pertaining to registration efforts of that group; and Whereas the House Oversight Committee is now pursuing a duplicate and dilatory review of materials already in the Committees possession by the Secretary of State of California; and Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California and the Committee have been reviewing these materials and has all the information it needs regarding who voted in the 46th District and all the information it needs to make judgments concerning those votes; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight has after nine months of review and investigation failed to present credible evidence to change the outcome of the election of Congresswoman Sanchez and is pursuing never ending and unsubstantiated areas of review; and Whereas, as taxpayers of our nation face cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Legal Services, Section 8 Housing assistance, and other areas of the social safety net have been frayed because of these reductions, close to half a million dollars of the people's money have been spent in an investigation that has resulted in absolutely no proof of fraud, and that the Honorable Loretta Sanchez has been duly seated by the State of California to represent the 46th Congressional District: Now therefore be it Resolved, That unless the Committee on House Oversight has sooner reported a recommendation for its final disposition, the contest in the 46th District of California is dismissed upon the expiration of November 7, 1997.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I come to this podium today to join my colleagues as a Member of the freshman class with Mr. Capps, Mr. Walter Capps, a distinguished literary man, a professor of religion, but more than that, a man who would take the issues of this Congress, listen to them thoroughly, and then let his conscience and the well-being of the American citizens determine how he would cast his vote. Mr. Speaker, I sat with him last Thursday as we discussed the Loretta Sanchez case out in California's 46th. How worried and troubled he was that an election that could be won by some 900 votes could be simply thrown aside and castigated and, more than that, the Congresswoman duly elected be chastised and harassed after having won an election in his beautiful home State of California. Mr. Speaker, I sponsored the Wilma Rudolph Congressional Gold Medal legislation last week, and I think my legislation might have been the last one that Mr. Walter Capps was able to cosponsor. I am proud to have him as a cosponsor. I want his wife, Lois, and his family to know that all of us will remember Walter as we carry out our congressional duties, that this Congress will be a better Congress because Walter served here. So, Mr. Speaker, I say to Lois and his family, ``He lives and he will always live because we will always remember him. God bless you.''

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proudly introduce a bill that will confer a Congressional Gold Medal to Wilma G. Rudolph. I was honored and proud to chair a hearing yesterday, organized by the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, on the 25th Anniversary of Title IX. Title IX provides for the equal funding of educational and athletic programs, and has provided for much of the breakthrough for women and girls in academics and athletics. I can think of no better person, male or female, who better embodies the spirit of Title IX than Wilma Rudolph. As a matter of fact, the date of Title IX's enactment into law--June 23--is Wilma Rudolph's date of birth. We explored where we were, where we are, and where we need to go regarding Title IX at yesterday's hearing of the Congressional Caucus of Women's issues. However, this conversation would be moot if not for the stellar achievements and contributions to academics, business, and athletics, of Wilma Rudolph. Wilma G. Rudolph, born the 20th of 22 children, was initially never given a chance to walk or resume a ``normal'' life. Through the hard work of her parents, she overcame scarlet fever, polio and pneumonia to become an athletic pioneer and champion in her home State of Tennessee in basketball and track. As a high school athlete, Wilma Rudolph once scored 49 points in a single game for Burt High school in Clarksville, TN, a record that still stands for the most points scored in a single game in the State of Tennessee. In her first major track meet, the national Amateur Athletic Union championships in 1956, Wilma placed first in the 300 yard dash, second in the 100 yard dash, and fourth in the 75 yard dash. Despite suffering from a severe ankle sprain, she was the first woman to win not one, but three gold medals in a single Olympiad. Her gold medals were in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and the 400 meter relay at the 1960 Olympics. Wilma Rudolph was not one, however, to rest upon the laurels that the celebrity of winning Olympic gold medals brought to her. Upon her return to Clarksville, TN, in 1960 Wilma Rudolph demanded, and received, the first integrated parade in the city of Clarksville. She continued her education, graduating from Tennessee State University. She became a successful businessperson, coach, teacher, and mother. The effort and example of Wilma Rudolph helped to blaze the trail that resulted in Title IX today. The opportunities of Title IX has allowed for lucrative careers in business for women, and the opportunity for women to enjoy, like men, to be able to afford the life as a professional athlete. Although Wilma Rudolph passed away on November 12, 1994, her legacy continues to inspire men and women, able-bodied and physically challenged, to overcome odds. Her life truly embodies the American values of hard work, determination, and love of humanity. I am honored that so many of my colleagues, through their co- sponsorship of this bill, recognize the broad talents and contributions of my heroine and friend, Wilma G. Rudolph. Original co-sponsors of the bill are Representatives Rod Blagojevich, Earl Blumenauer, Minority Whip David Bonior, Walter H. Capps, Julia Carson, Donna Christian-Green, Bob Clement, James E. Clyburn, John Conyers, Jr., Danny K. Davis, Rosa DeLauro, Ronald V. Dellums, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Bob Filner, Harold E. Ford, Jr., Barney Frank, Martin Frost, Bart Gordon, Earl F. Hilliard, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Sheila Jackson-Lee, Zoe Lofgren, William L. Jenkins, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Tom Lantos, Cynthia McKinney, Carrie Meek, Robert Menendez, Juanita Millender-McDonald, Patsy T. Mink, James L. Oberstar, Glenn Poshard, Lynn Rivers, Bobby Rush, Max Sandlin, Debbie Stabenow, Fortney Pete Stark, Bennie G. Thompson, Maxine Waters, J.C. Watts, Lynn C. Woolsey, and Albert R. Wynn.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, yesterday the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues held a very successful title IX hearing. This is the 25th anniversary of title IX and it has afforded the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of young women and others to attend higher education. Title IX was signed into law by President Nixon and enacted on June 23, 1972. I am happy to also announce that today I will introduce legislation for a Congressional Gold Medal for Ms. Wilma Rudolph, a pioneer. The legislation is sponsored by original sponsors, nearly 40 of them here in this House of Representatives. It just so happens that June 23, the day the bill was enacted, is Ms. Wilma Rudolph's anniversary of her birthday, and we honor title IX. Twenty-five years. We have come a long way, and we have a long way to go into the new millennium. It is our hope the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues will put this issue before the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, reserving the right to object, will the gentleman from Ohio please explain the resolution?

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the explanation from the gentleman from Ohio. I too think Bob Hope is a fine gentleman who has really kept the morale up of many of our veterans and would concur with the resolution. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member from Wisconsin for this opportunity to address the House. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation, primarily because I am not a member of the committee that reported this, and, as a result, because it is on the suspension calendar, I do not have an opportunity to offer amendments. How can we put on the suspension calendar a bill so important to this Nation as the one before us this afternoon? Did you know that 850 tons of drugs leave Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and a couple other places in this world, destined to America, and that 600 tons of those drugs get into our country? Drugs are the cancer of America. It is creating a cancer in our families and our communities and across this Nation. How then can we put this legislation on the suspension calendar and not allow 435 elected Representatives to debate the issue? I oppose this legislation, mainly on that ground. I have a HIDTA in my district, high intensity drug trafficking area. I work with the community and the people who are part of that in my district. But what we found in HIDTA is, yes, it is good on law enforcement, but it is poor on community input. It is poor on having proven programs participate in the HIDTA. The board of the HIDTA is law enforcement. Yes, we need law enforcement, but we also need community input into the cancerous drug trade hampering America, and which, in my opinion, will really restrict America from being the fine country we have been as we move to the 21st century. There have been no hearings on this legislation. How can a cancer such as drugs, 600 tons of it into our country, come before this Congress, with no hearings, and then be put on the suspension calendar? I urge my colleagues to vote against this. Let it go to the Committee on Rules. Let it be debated before the full House of Representatives. We can cure this program, I am convinced of that, but not when we try to hoodwink Americans, not when we do not give our communities the support that they need. This bill must go to the Committee on Rules. It must come on the Floor for open debate, so we can all debate it and amend it, and then send it on to the President. I urge the defeat of this legislation. Let us come back and debate it. Until we deal with the drug problem in America, our seniors are not safe, our children have no opportunity, and this Congress will not be as effective as it ought to be. Please defeat this legislation.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, during earlier debate on the floor of the House on October 9, 1997, I stated that my oldest son, Kwame Kilpatrick, was an attorney. While he will soon be an attorney, he is a third year law student. I would like to use this opportunity to correct that fact in the Congressional Record, and I thank the House for this opportunity.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I offer thanks to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran], our ranking member, for giving me the opportunity to come before this body today, as well as to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dixon], who has shown his leadership as we discuss the life of over 600,000 people in this city of ours, our Capital City, who have no representation who can vote in this Congress. Mr. Chairman, 600,000 people, more than 4 States' population, and yet they have no vote here in this Congress. And if they did, I do not think we would be debating as we are today how they would run their schools. I stand here opposed to this legislation for many reasons. First of all, it repeals the Davis-Bacon provision that says that prevailing wages and safety regulations will be had for the workers who work on construction and repair projects here in the District of Columbia district with over 600,000 people. It also closes the UDC Law School. It is not a time to close our law school. It is an opportunity for people to go to law school who would otherwise not have it. I think it is a tragedy. Mr. Chairman, this bill talks about school vouchers. Over 90 percent of children in America go to public schools. I am a parent and former high school teacher and a graduate of all-public universities. I have two children who graduated from public school. One is now a lawyer; the other owns her own business. Many of us in this Congress are products of public education. Why then are we putting our will on over 600,000 people in the District of Columbia who have said over and over again, and in a vote of over 60 percent, that they do not want vouchers? Mr. Chairman, I say to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], Madam D.C. Congresswoman, for your efforts we praise you. Mr. Chairman, to all of my colleagues who want to run the District of Columbia I say, leave them alone. Give them D.C. statehood. That is what they want, 600,000 people, more than the population of four States. I think it is unfortunate, and I urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, as you know, we will soon leave for a week-long district work period. However, I did not want my colleagues to leave before pointing out a key event that will occur next week in many cities in our Nation. Two years ago on October 16, 1997, the largest nonviolent demonstration in the history of the United States took place less than 100 yards from where I now stand. This demonstration, the Million Man March, saw African-American men stand up and dedicate themselves to take control of their lives, their destiny, and their communities. A larger theme of the march was that of atonement, to reconcile our differences with one another so that we may face all of the challenges that oppress African-Americans in a solid wall of unity, in a united front of understanding and peace. Despite entreaties by the media and other sources, initially questioning whether any men would show up for this march, combined with the media's sub rosa notions of violence that was expected from such a gathering of African-American men, this march was a fantastic success. Many of our States, cities, and communities are budding with new organizations, large and small, dedicated toward making our neighborhoods a safer place. I am an avid, ardent, and enthusiastic supporter of the goals and ideals of the march: acknowledging past mistakes, confessing these errors to those whom we have wronged, asking for forgiveness, and having the restoration of spirit that is encompassed in taking these steps. Collectively, African-Americans must atone for the destruction that is going on in our communities. Collectively, America must atone for the divisiveness that has wreaked so much dissension among all of God's children. And, it is collectively how these challenges will be solved. The theme of the Holy Day of Atonement, ``To be Young, Gifted and Atoning,'' will emphasize a focus on what needs to be done, with and for our youth, to save us all. It is in this spirit that I honor and support the goals and ideals of October 16, 1997, as a day of atonement. Each city will observe this day in its own manner. ``To be Young, Gifted and Atoning,'' emphasizing the condition of our youth, will allow all Americans to discover where we the power is located to solve these problems--the power is located within ourselves. I support the effort of African-American men to build the strength within themselves to forge better men, better sons, better homes, better communities, and better nations. I support the effort of African-American women to work with African-American men toward these desperately-needed ideals. I support the effort of every American to improve our country, reach out and help those willing to help themselves. The Holy Day of Atonement is an excellent vehicle to continue upon the success of two years ago, and I applaud the hard work of its dedicated staff and volunteers in the 15th Congressional District of Michigan and in other cities throughout our great Nation.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I do not want us to lose sight of why we are here. Let us concentrate on that. I rise in opposition to this resolution, after having sat on that committee for now nearly 10 months. They do not have the evidence. If they had it, they would bring it forth. The subpoena has been issued and this organization has complied. Members might not know that in January, the District Attorney in California drove a truck up to Hermandad and seized their records, everything; computers, files. They did a sweep of their hard drive. Members might not also know that on August 17 those same records were turned over to our committee. They have the records. Use the records, if they have them. And if there was something to be found, believe me, this House of Representatives would have found it. Let the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Loretta Sanchez, go. She won the election by over 900 votes. She has been certified by the Republican Secretary of State. She has won in the recount, some more than 900 votes. I think it is horrendous. Let us defeat this resolution. Let us let the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] serve. She has been castigated and harassed enough. What is at stake is this institution. Will we allow an election won by some 900, nearly 1,000 votes, be overturned by constant, constant harassment? This House of Representatives has authorized over $300,000 in legal fees for this witch hunt. I would much rather see that in senior meals, senior services and health services. We have to rise up in a bipartisan way. This must come to an end. Let us defeat this resolution. Let the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] serve her constituents in the 46th district. She has accumulated over $500,000 in expenses. Are we really a Congress for the people? Let us get back to the business of American citizens. Let us get to the work of jobs and industrial health for our people in this country. Let us defeat this resolution. Let the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] get back to work, and let us go about the business of building America.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I thank the gentleman.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I thank the gentleman from New York. I see the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] on the floor. We are told over here that it is scheduled for Monday afternoon. It is H. Res. 244. Perhaps the gentleman from California might want to comment. We are trying to understand so we can know what the schedule is.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, I would like to ask the gentleman a question. The majority leader just spoke of our schedule for the coming days and tonight. Last night in the Committee on House Oversight, House Resolution 244 was voted out of committee. We have major concerns on this side about the resolution. We would like to know, is it scheduled for the rules? When will it be taken up? The resolution as passed by the Committee on House Oversight concerning California's 46th Congressional District with Congresswoman Sanchez, we would like to know when it is going to the Committee on Rules and when it will be scheduled so we can prepare ourselves.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentleman from California.