Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Arts' Caucus amendment that would fully fund the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH. I Would like to especially thank co-chairs of the Arts Caucus and the authors of the amendment--the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays)--for their leadership on this issue. In my district, the 9th congressional district of California, more than 10,000 people are employed in arts related jobs. They play an integral role in building and sustaining our local economy. The AXIS Dance Company, an NEA grants recipient in Oakland California, is just one example of an organization in my community that relies on these funds to sustain their programs. The AXIS Company includes dancers with and without disabilities. Thanks to an NEA Access to Artistic Excellence Grant, the company launched their first-ever Summer Intensive session last year. As Judith Smith, the companies' artistic director, explains: ``By presenting dance that includes dancers with and without disabilities we show youth what is possible when people with differences collaborate. . . . Ultimately it helps them see that they can do and accomplish whatever they set their mind to. This is the beauty of art.'' The AXIS Company is but one example; nationally there are 548,000 arts-related businesses, but it is impossible to count how many lives are impacted by their services. The facts speak for themselves--if you cut arts funding, you cut jobs and opportunities for all. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Arts' Caucus bipartisan amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Congressional Black Caucus budget and in opposition to the Republican budget. The Republican budget falls short on every account, especially when it comes to our defense priorities. The CBC budget reallocates $9.4 billion from an unworkable missile defense program and puts it into real security priorities like making sure that our troops have enough body armor, like ensuring that our veterans have enough access to benefits, and like securing our ports. This substitute takes a first step at combating the enormous problems of waste, fraud and abuse at the Pentagon. GAO has concluded that one- third of the recommendations made to DOD on waste, fraud and abuse in the last 5 years has saved $40.8 billion by implementing them. Imagine how much would be saved and put into education, into health care, into job creation, into creating a liveable world for our communities here in America and abroad, if, in fact, the rest of these recommendations are implemented. This substitute would require the Defense Department to work on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse immediately. Our national security priorities are taken very seriously in this budget. Let us support the Congressional Black Caucus budget.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to join my colleagues here in the Congressional Black Caucus, throughout the United States and across the globe in commemorating and honoring the extraordinary life of Damu Smith. A leader in the ongoing struggles for civil rights as well as social and environmental justice for more than 30 years, Damu is known worldwide for his lifelong commitment to advancing equality, human rights and nonviolence. Damu passed away on May 5, 2006 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri to Sylvester and Vernice Smith, Damu was raised with his three brothers and sisters in the Carr Square Village housing project. A working-class family, they often struggled to make ends meet, sometimes receiving welfare or other government assistance. Damu has said that having this experience growing up developed in him a great sensitivity to the plight of low-income communities, and played a central role in shaping his views as an adult and as an activist. As a high school student, Damu had the chance to attend some of the Black Solidarity Day rallies in Cairo, Illinois, where he listened to speeches by Amiri Baraka, Nina Simone and Jesse Jackson, and toured black neighborhoods where white supremacists had sprayed houses with gunfire, a sight that changed his life. As a freshman at St. John's University in Minnesota, and president of the Organization of Afro- American Students, Damu led a protest and takeover of the school's administrative offices to demand a Black studies program. It was during that time that he changed his name to Damu Amiri Imara Smith, the first three words meaning ``blood,'' ``leadership,'' and ``strength'' in Swahili, respectively. In 1973, he moved to Washington D.C., where he began the next chapter in his lifelong mission of advocating for social justice in the United States and abroad. Over the next thirty years, Damu's activism included vigilance in the fight against Apartheid in South Africa as Executive Director of the Washington Office on Africa and co-founder of Artists for a Free South Africa. Additionally, Damu focused his energy and attention on broad- based efforts to expose gun violence and police brutality, and was also active in peace and nuclear weapons freeze campaigns, working as the Associate Director of the Washington Office of the American Friends Service Committee. Furthermore, Damu was known for his pioneering leadership in the environmental justice movement, working as the first environmental justice coordinator for the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice. After touring cities severely impacted by chemical pollution and seeing the devastating impacts of these practices on low income and African American communities, he organized Toxic Tours in the South for Greenpeace. In 1999, he coordinated the largest environmental justice conference ever held, an event which led to the formation of the National Black Environmental Justice Network, which was the first ever network of Black environmental justice activists, and of which he served as the Executive Director. Throughout his historic and far-reaching career of activism and advocacy, Damu was widely respected and viewed as a leading voice for social justice and progressive change in the United States and abroad. Revered by his colleagues and all who knew him as not just a leader but a true visionary in the fight for justice, peace and equality, Damu's contributions to the effort to affect genuinely democratic reforms in the United States and around the world are truly immeasurable. My life was personally touched by Damu. I met him many years ago and his intellect, heart and soul brought joy and clarity to my life. Like all who knew and loved him, I will deeply miss his presence on this earth. Though his death is a great loss to our country and to our entire global family, the legacy of his work will continue to improve countless lives for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers are with Damu's family, as well as the numerous friends, colleagues and other individuals that he inspired during his lifetime as we mourn the loss of this exemplary leader.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I would like to thank Congressman Honda and the Asian Pacific American Caucus for organizing a special order tonight to honor Asian Pacific Americans and the great contributions they have made to our Nation. I would also like to say that I am very proud to be a member of the Tri-Caucus, which unites the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe in the importance of honoring all of our country's unique cultures, and it is truly a privilege to participate in this special order. Asian Pacific Americans have played a tremendous role in the development of our Nation. I would first like to acknowledge the late Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, our first woman of color to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was a trailblazer for Asian Pacific Americans, and it is wonderful to see that her impact is still felt and that her legacy continues. As Representative of California's Ninth U.S. Congressional District, APA Heritage month is especially important to me. Asian and Pacific Island American culture has a very large impact in the cities of my district. My district is the birthplace of Amy Tan, a Chinese-American woman and New York Times bestselling author best known for her novel The Joy Luck Club, and it's subsequent film adaptation. She has received countless acknowledgments including the Bay Area Book Reviewer's Award. Today, Ms. Tan's novels and short stories are a part of high schools and universities' literary curricula nationwide. My district is also the birthplace of Fred Korematsu, born in Oakland to Japanese immigrants, who challenged the World War II internment of Japanese American citizens. As an American citizen Mr. Korematsu refused to go to an internment camp, but he was arrested, sent to one in 1942 and branded a spy by newspapers. He opposed the internment policy in the Supreme Court, but in its ignoble 1944 decision the Supreme Court upheld the policy. In 1983 Mr. Korematsu appealed his conviction, which a Federal court overturned acknowledging that the Government's case at the time had been based on misleading and racially biased information. President Bill Clinton awarded Mr. Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998, honoring Mr. Korematsu for fighting for human rights and ensuring the very liberties that created this great Nation. Today, the legacy of Asian Pacific American leaders such as Ms. Tan and Mr. Korematsu is apparent in the numerous remarkable programs and initiatives in APA communities throughout my district. There are several that I would like to recognize, including Oakland Asian Students Educational Services also known as OASES. As the city of Oakland is one of three cities in the Bay Area that has the lowest high school graduation rates for Asian students, this organization works to decrease cultural gaps in education. OASES reaches out to all youth with limited resources and limited educational opportunities, particularly children of Asian Pacific Islander families. I would also like to recognize the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. This center works by employing the belief that upholding cultural tradition and honoring cultural heritage are at the core of maintaining healthy and lively communities. The center presents a variety of cultural festivities and artistic expression in dance, literature, music and visual arts. The center is an excellent resource for understanding the legacy of Asian and Pacific Island Americans and their great influence on the cultural identities of our communities. My district is also home to several of the nation's leading health care providers for APA communities. Asian Community Mental Health Services, for example, is an organization that offers access to and increases community acceptance of mental healthcare, which in many APA communities remains taboo. Asian Health Services is another organization that works to ensure that members of APA communities can overcome challenges to obtaining high-quality, affordable healthcare due to language barriers, income, lack of insurance coverage and cultural differences. Lastly, I would like to bring special attention to Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ) and its Executive Director, Ms. Eveline Shen. Founded in 1989, ACRJ has been a longtime leader in ensuring that APA women and girls are equipped with the tools to make important decisions about their reproductive health. Under the leadership of Ms. Shen, ACRJ places reproductive health and freedom at the center of promoting social and economic freedom for APA women in the shadows of patriarchal cultures. During her nearly two decades of community organizing and eight years at ACRJ, Ms. Shen has become a leader in building a social justice movement in APA communities, which is one of the fastest growing constituencies in California and in my district. I commend Ms. Shen and ACRJ's dedication to assisting APA women to obtain the American promise of ``liberty and justice for all.'' As our Nation is home to so many people from all over the world, it is important that we continue to bring attention to the issues that affect all communities. It is our responsibility to ensure that no one is ignored and that equal attention is given to all groups. It is also our duty to seek justice for those who are underrepresented. And, lastly, it is our privilege to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the many leaders throughout Ameican history, who have embodied excellence in advancing the principles of democracy, freedom and justice for all of our communities and strengthening the foundation of America. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank Mr. Honda and the APA Caucus for inviting me to participate in this special order. Let us continue to unite, pay tribute to Asian Pacific Americans and remember the importance their outstanding contributions to our Nation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4297. This legislation would give big benefits to millionaires, billionaires and giant corporations while the average American suffers under record high energy costs and again gets stuck with the bill. Mr. Speaker, we should not increase the burden on our children and our grandchildren with this administration's record deficits just to make another 70 billion dollar gift that will line the pockets of the wealthiest few. Let's not extend tax rates that would encourage oil company executives to continue gouging record profits from every hard working American. Mr. Speaker, we need to rethink our priorities. Instead of another 70 billion dollars for the super rich, why not provide health care for millions of children, provide housing for the neglected victims of Katrina or improve the education of the countless students that this administration has left so far behind? Is this Republican Congress so busy returning profits to the wealthy, that it has forgotten the families who have done all the hard work? I encourage members to remember the American families that are the back bone of our nation and our economy and vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding, also for her leadership on the Rules Committee and on so many issues that we are addressing in this body. Mr. Speaker, let me just say once again I rise in opposition to this misguided $513 billion defense authorization bill. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, what does it say really about our national security priorities when this bill authorizes a $9.1 billion missile defense program that has consistently failed, will never protect us from terrorists, and continues to siphon funds from other critical security priorities that keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists and protect our ports from terrorist attacks? What does it say about our priorities when billions of taxpayer dollars are channeled to military contractors with little accountability or oversight for combating waste, fraud and abuse? What does it say when we have another bill that authorizes Cold War era weapons systems? Mr. Speaker, what does it say about our priorities when Congress once again authorizes nearly $50 billion more for the unnecessary war in Iraq without any accountability, direction or a way out? Every additional day our troops remain in Iraq is an extra day that they feel the insurgency in terms of the attacks. That is why I joined with my friend and colleague, Mr. Allen from Maine, in offering an amendment to clearly put Congress on record stating that it is the policy of the United States not to have permanent military bases in Iraq. This would take the target off of our troops' backs. Unfortunately this amendment was rejected, along with dozens of others which would have made this bill better. Yes, as the daughter of an Army officer, career Army officer, who consistently has supported our brave troops, I believe in a strong national defense, but this bill provides authorization for too many wasteful programs that fuel military contractors, does nothing to eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse at the Pentagon, and does very little, if you ask me, to put money into 21st century era national security needs that we need at this point rather than building in the continuation of Cold War era weapons systems.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4954, the SAFE Port Act, and I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for their work on this bill, as well as my colleagues from California Mr. Lungren, Ms. Harman, and Ms. Loretta Sanchez. As a member of the Port Security Caucus and as an original co-sponsor of this legislation I have been consistently fighting for a massive increase in funding and focus to secure our Nation's ports. The fact of the matter is that over the last 4 years we have done far too little to secure our Nation's ports. Since 2002 we have barely spent $700 million on port security grants throughout the country even though our ports have already identified and applied for over $3.8 billion worth of security improvements and even though the Coast Guard estimates that at least $5.4 billion is needed through 2010. Instead of spending $320 billion to mislead us into a war in Iraq, the administration could have hired nearly 5 million inspectors to ensure that all cargo that enters our country is inspected. This year this administration has even proposed to roll all critical infrastructure security grants into one pool, forcing ports, rail and other critical infrastructure to compete for scarce security dollars. That just doesn't make any sense. The SAFE Port Act rejects the administration's wrongheaded proposal and increases the authorization for port security funding to $400 million per year. Although this bill does make a number of very good steps in the right direction to secure our ports, I am disappointed that it does not go far enough to screen foreign cargo before it enters U.S. ports. If we had adopted the Markey-Nadler amendment requiring 100 percent container scanning prior to shipment from foreign ports, we could have ensured that any potential threat would be identified and dealt with before it entered the United States. If even one incident occurs that compromises a single container of a known shipper, our current screening system will fall apart. Mr. Chairman, I believe that 100 percent screening is our only option because in this day and age we cannot afford the risk of even one incident. But we haven't even been given the option to vote on the Markey- Nadler amendment. I'm also disappointed that the bill does not contain enough funding for the Coast Guard's deepwater program, or the radiation portal monitoring program that was first successfully launched at the Port of Oakland in my district last year. We can and we must increase funding for both these programs and provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to port security that includes 100 percent screening. Until we do so, our job remains unfinished.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership. I rise in strong support of this amendment. It would lift the ban on privately funded abortion care at overseas military bases where abortion is legal. Currently servicewomen or women military dependents are forbidden from using their own personal funds to obtain an abortion if they are stationed overseas. Enacting this amendment will put an end to this discriminatory policy against the 350,000 women in our military who are serving our country each and every day. We must ensure that servicewomen overseas are guaranteed their legal right to access comprehensive health care services. We must demand that servicewomen overseas can obtain the same quality and range of medical care available to them in the United States. We must protect those who risk their lives each and every day to protect their country. Let us reject this administration's ongoing politically motivated war on women and let's start by adopting this important commonsense amendment. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Davis-Harman-Sanchez amendment and provide our servicewomen with access to their constitutionally protected right to choose.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank a great leader, our colleague, Congressman Honda, and the Asian Pacific American Caucus, of which I am a very proud member, for organizing later this night a special order to honor the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans. Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but first recall and remind us of the great leadership of our beloved Congressman Bob Matsui, whom we all knew so well, who led the fight for justice and reparations for Japanese Americans who were interned in our own country. And it is in his memory tonight that I hope we will all reflect on the legacy and great contributions of not only Congressman Matsui, but so many Asian Pacific Americans who played a tremendous role in the development of our Nation. I would like to acknowledge the late Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, our first woman of color to serve in the United States House of Representatives. She was a trailblazer for Asian Pacific Americans and women and all people of color. And it is wonderful to see that her impact is felt and that her legacy continues. We miss her tremendously. APA Heritage Month is especially important to my congressional district. Asian Pacific Island American culture has a very large impact in the cities in my district. My district is the birthplace of Amy Tan, a Chinese American woman, and the New York Times best-selling author of the Joy Luck Club. Many have read that novel and its subsequent film adaptation. She has received countless acknowledgments, including the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award. Tonight, Ms. Tan's novels and short stories are part of high schools and universities literacy curricula nationwide. My district is also the birthplace of Fred Korematsu, born in Oakland to Japanese immigrants who challenged the World War II internment of Japanese American citizens. As an American citizen, Mr. Korematsu refused, he refused to go to an internment camp, but he was arrested. He was sent to one in 1942 and branded a spy by newspapers. He opposed the internment policy in the Supreme Court, but in its 1944 decision, the Supreme Court upheld that policy. Unbelievable. In 1983, Mr. Korematsu, appealed his conviction which a Federal court overturned, acknowledging that the government's case at the time had been based on misleading and racially biased information. President Bill Clinton awarded Mr. Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998, honoring Mr. Korematsu for fighting for human rights and ensuring the very liberties that created this great Nation. Today, the legacy of Asian Pacific American leaders such as Ms. Tan and Mr. Korematsu, Congressman Matsui, Congresswoman Patsy Mink is apparent in the numerous and remarkable programs and initiatives in our communities and especially throughout my district. There are several that I would like to recognize, including Oakland's Asian Students Educational Services, also known as OASES. As the City of Oakland is one of three cities in the Bay Area that has the lowest high school graduation rates for Asian students, this organization works to decrease cultural gaps in education. I would also like to recognize the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. This center works by employing the belief that upholding cultural traditions and honoring cultural heritage are the core of maintaining healthy and liveable communities. My district is also home to several of the Nation's leading health care providers for the APA community. Asian Community Mental Health Services, for example, is an organization that offers access to and increases community acceptance of mental care, in which many APA communities remain taboo. Lastly, I would like to bring special attention to Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice and its executive director, Ms. Eveline Shen. Founded in 1989, ACRJ has been a long-time leader in ensuring that APA women and girls are equipped with the tools to make important decisions about their reproductive health. I commend Ms. Shen and the ACRJ's dedication to assisting women to obtain America's promise of liberty and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank Mr. Honda and the APA Caucus for inviting me to participate later tonight in this special order. Let us continue to unite and pay tribute to Asian Pacific Americans and remember the importance of their outstanding contributions to our Nation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, Washington Republicans realize they have a credibility problem with the American people when it comes to their cozy relationships with the oil industry. For 5 years now, President Bush has stacked his administration with energy executives. Shortly after he took office, Newsweek commented that ``not since the rise of the railroads more than a century ago has a single industry placed so many foot soldiers at the top of the new administration.'' Two-thirds of the Department of Energy and its transition team worked for the energy industry, including Enron's Ken Lay, who is now on trial for manipulating energy markets. It is no wonder that the Nation's three largest petroleum companies, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Conoco Phillips, posted combined quarter profits of almost $16 billion last week. Rather than really address price gouging or the outrageous tax breaks that these companies continue to receive, House Republicans offer more of the same failed policies that have not worked for 5 years. Madam Speaker, it is time Republicans realize that these companies are gouging the consumer. It is time that we pass the tough Democratic price gouging bill consumers deserve, no less. Price gouging is wrong. It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in bringing attention to our Nation's uninsured. As we commemorate Cover the Uninsured Week, I would like to say that it is criminal that there are over 45 million uninsured people in this country, 8 million of them children. For a Nation that boasts about being the wealthiest in the world and claims liberty and justice for all, the fact that we have even one person without health insurance is a contradiction and a shame. Every single year an estimated 18,000 people die because they are uninsured and cannot get the medical care they need. 18,000 lives lost solely because we as a Nation fail to provide a basic human right to those living in this country. And instead of addressing this crisis head on, this Administration and Republican leadership have contributed to increasing numbers of uninsured people. Mr. Speaker, during the Bush Administration the number of uninsured has risen by 6 million people. More people are now without health insurance than at any point since the Census began collecting comparable data in 1987. The Republicans prefer politics and profit over vulnerable people. It is obvious that consumer driven health plans and cuts to Medicaid are not the answer to this problem. Health Savings Accounts and Association Health Plans provide benefits only to those who are rich and healthy. They will do nothing to decrease the number of uninsured who are typically lower-income and have more health problems. The increase in the number of uninsured in this country also continues to disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Of the over 45 million uninsured, 32.7 percent are Hispanic; 19.7 percent are Black; and 16.8 percent are Asian. Furthermore, over 25 percent of the Native American population is uninsured. Despite this devastating crisis in our Nation, we do have a solution. It is universal access to quality health care and we must demand it for our people and make it a priority of this Congress. The United States is the only industrialized Nation that does not provide some form of universal access. As a co-chair of the National Health Insurance Caucus, I have fought in Congress for universal access. That is why I have sponsored H.R. 3000, the Josephine Butler United States Health Insurance Act and support my colleague John Conyers' universal health care bill, H.R. 676. The goal of our legislation is so simple--to ensure that all individuals have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective healthcare services regardless of their employment, income, or healthcare status. While I promote universal coverage, I also support the Family Care Act, the Medicare Early Access Act, and the Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act, 3 bills that, if enacted, would provide health insurance to half of the uninsured. If this nation fails to take action right now, the number of uninsured will only continue to increase. Currently, national health care spending is rising by more than 7 percent per year. We all know that as health costs rise, more and more people lose their health insurance either because their employer can't afford it or they can't pay for it. Mr. Speaker, two out of every five or 41 percent of working-age Americans with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 were uninsured for at least part of the past year. This is a dramatic and rapid increase from 2001 when just over one-quarter or 28 percent were uninsured. In fact, only 19 percent of the uninsured are from families with no connection to the work force. That means 80 percent of the uninsured are working people. People who go to work, but cannot afford to obtain health care. We can not continue to spread the belief that employment guarantees access to health insurance. If we don't acknowledge health care as a basic human right soon, it will be too late for some, and our societies most vulnerable will continue to suffer. These are the Americans who are too often ignored. The uninsured have lived a campaign of survival, and deserve a voice today and every day on this floor. These 45 million people are calling out for their government to put people before profit. They realize that access to quality health insurance or universal health care is essential in impacting health outcomes. Over 40 percent of the uninsured have no regular source of health care and utilize emergency care due to avoiding high cost regular visits. This situation creates an ongoing cycle of adults and children skipping the key preventive medicine steps, like routine check-ups, recommended tests, and low-cost treatments. By ignoring preventive treatments and not addressing the sky-high health costs; we are creating sicker people. It is a fact that the uninsured are more likely than those with insurance to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been avoided. We are putting our uninsured in the position of choosing between dealing with an illness at its early and most treatable stage or feeding their family. Mr. Speaker, the message we must send is that universal access to quality health care should be provided without discrimination to all. We must make health care accessible! Make health care affordable! Make health care a guarantee! I encourage all of my colleagues to support legislation that will put people before profit in our health care system.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5254. This bill is a complete sham, and will do absolutely nothing to mitigate the high gas prices that our constituents are being forced to pay at the pump. The fact is we did not get to $3 a gallon for gas because of our environmental and public health laws, and we shouldn't be gutting them In response. The bottom line is that energy companies are not interested in expanding their refinery capacity because they want gas supply to remain tight so they can keep making record profits. In a hearing last November in the other body, both the CEO's for Shell and ConocoPhillips indicated that they were not aware of any environmental regulation that was preventing them from building new refineries. While in January representatives from Exxon indicated that they had no plans to build new refineries. So what is the point of this bill if nobody wants it or needs it? The real problem with high gas prices today boils down to two things: 1. The administration's deliberate decision to promote an energy policy developed by and for their cronies in the oil and gas industry at the expense of the American people. 2. The geo-political problems in the Middle East that have been exacerbated by the actions of this administration over the last six years. Those are the issues we should be dealing with today. Instead of gutting our Nation's environmental and public health laws and providing another giveaway to the energy industry we need to implement a strategy of energy independence. We need to make immediate investments to expand energy efficiency and the use of renewable fuels, and we need to adopt a foreign policy that does not hold our constituents hostage to the latest political crisis in the Middle East. I urge my colleagues to oppose this wrongheaded bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to join my colleagues here in the U.S. and across the globe in commemorating and honoring the extraordinary life of Dr. Mose Tjitendero, Speaker of the National Assembly in Namibia and a man known for his dedication to the principle of One Namibia, One Nation. Highly regarded throughout his life as an outstanding leader and a true patriot, Dr. Tjitendero was dedicated to advancing justice, independence and self-determination for the people of Namibia and for others around the world. Dr. Tjitendero passed away on April 26, 2006 at the age of 63 following a short illness. Born the son of a Herero slave, Dr. Tjitendero hailed from a small village called Okomakuara in the Ovitoto area of Namibia. He was expelled from Augustineum Training College in 1963 after he attended a political rally in Windhoek, and left Namibia for exile in 1964 when he was only 20 years old. Upon his arrival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, he was appointed to be the student representative of the South West Africa People's Organization, SWAPO political movement. In that role he became a radio broadcaster for the liberation movement, and as a part of the Tanganyika club, was instrumental in propelling SWAPO into an international movement in the 1960s. In 1967 Dr. Tjitendero received a scholarship to attend Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he completed a B.A. degree in History and Political Science, and in 1976 he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts School of Education. In the mid-1970s, SWAPO called Dr. Tjitendero to Zambia to open the United Nations institute for Namibia in Lusaka, where he taught for 5 years. Dr. Tjitendero served as the first Speaker of Namibia's National Assembly from 1990 until 2004, and had been a member of the SWAPO Central Committee since 1981. He was instrumental in teaching and motivating other leaders in his country, and at the 2004 SWAPO Extraordinary Congress, he nominated Hidipo Hamutenya, a fellow student from his days at Lincoln University, to be his party's presidential candidate. Throughout his tenure in the National Assembly, Dr. Tjitendero was widely respected and viewed as an impartial chairperson of parliamentary proceedings and an advocate for popular participation in Namibia's democracy. Revered by his colleagues as honest, hardworking, and thoroughly dedicated to promoting peace, freedom and national unity, Dr. Tjitendero's contributions to the development of democracy, equality and economic opportunity in Namibia are truly immeasurable. Though his death is loss to the entire Namibian nation, the legacy of his work will continue to improve countless lives in throughout Namibia and beyond for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Tjitendero's wife Sandy and his two children, as well as all of his friends, colleagues, and the people of Namibia as they mourn the loss of this exemplary leader.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for her support. And, yes, we have talked over the years about this and wanted to come to some bipartisan agreement and solution. So I think this is a very modest yet very important amendment, and I want to thank again our chairman and ranking member for their support. Let me also thank our staffs on both sides of the aisle. Especially I want to thank my chief of staff, Julie Nixon, for her support and leadership, and both the minority and majority staff for, again, helping us to figure out the appropriate language to accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish. I thank them for their support.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman for his support and want to make sure that it is on the record that we have talked and agreed with regard to the intent of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), ranking member of the committee.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me first thank our ranking member of the committee, my colleague and friend from California, Congresswoman Jane Harman, for her support of this amendment and for her leadership. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very simple and noncontroversial. It merely requires the President to submit a report to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees describing any authorization granted over the last 10 years to engage in intelligence activities related to the overthrow of a democratically elected government. Mr. Chairman, we all know that democracy promotion is at the top of this administration's agenda, and I believe that there is no question that supporting democracy should be a nonpartisan issue that we all agree on because it is at the core of our Nation's values. It is, quite simply, fundamental to who we are as a people and what we stand for as a Nation. That is why we must support democratic movements as they take place across the world. Nothing less than our values are on the line if we don't. That is why we must be vigilant and safeguard against any actions that would undermine or threaten our ability to support democratic efforts. It is clear that actions that undermine democracies also undermine our credibility in the world and, therefore, our ability to be viewed as a serious and legitimate agent of democracy. So if promoting democracy is to remain a critical pillar of our foreign policy, we must ensure that our ability to be this voice for people's movements throughout the world is not damaged by contrary actions. Who will believe us if our actions are inconsistent with our words? How successful will we be in achieving our goals? So today I offer this amendment to support and protect our efforts toward promoting democracy and to help ensure that our actions are consistent with our values. Toward that end this amendment will help Members of this body stay well informed about our Nation's actions related to these types of overt or covert intelligence activities which is especially critical at this moment. This amendment will help increase transparency in the process by requiring a report that is organized and comprehensive over the past 10 years. It will also help provide this information in an organized fashion so Members do not need to sort through voluminous records or seek information on a country-by- country basis. It is also critical to point out that that amendment in no way compromises the confidential and sensitive nature of the information as it requires the report to be delivered to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees and for Members to review it in a confidential and secure setting. So, Mr. Chairman, I want to conclude by thanking again our ranking member for her support, and want to strongly urge all my colleagues here to stand up for democracy and to stand up for transparency by supporting this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, although not a perfect bill, I plan to support H.R. 282 based on several important decisions I authored and that were included in the committee-passed bill. First, and most importantly, this bill includes my language explicitly stating that this bill in no way constitutes an authorization to use military force against Iran. Additionally, it includes my provision clarifying that none of the funds authorized for democracy promotion should be used to fund destabilizing activities against Iran. Moreover, in the report accompanying this legislation, I was able to include language aimed at ensuring that none of the funds authorized in this legislation are channeled to democracy promotion organizations that may in turn bankroll covert action against Iran. My vote today in no way detracts from my vigilance regarding this administration and its reported interest in another preemptive strike-- this time against Iran. I have and will continue to strongly oppose the so-called doctrine of preemption and believe we must engage Iran in smart and tough diplomacy regarding its nuclear programs.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this Republican budget which, of course, continues to take our country in the wrong direction. Not only does the Republican budget make harmful cuts to critical services for working families, it fails to live up to really any standard of morality. By eliminating programs like HOPE VI and the Community Services Block Grant, and by slashing education training and social services funding, the Republican budget really is an all-out assault on millions of hard- working Americans. Further, the issue of economic security which, of course, does not exist in this budget, economic security is really a critical component of national security, and the Republican budget even fails to adequately support homeland security priorities. I represent one of the largest ports in the country, and I know firsthand how important port and container security is. Though the Port of Oakland achieved the ability to screen all cargo coming through last year, how many other ports are adequately funded to do this? Economic security and homeland security are put on the back burner in this budget, and that is simply unacceptable. So I urge my colleagues to reject this budget resolution, because it is not a budget that we should be supporting.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank our ranking member for yielding, and also for your leadership and for making sure that wherever genocide is occurring, you take action to stop it, Mr. Lantos. Thank you so much. I want to thank also Chairman Hyde and Chairman Smith for their leadership and for making sure that as we move forward in addressing this atrocity that we work together in a bipartisan fashion. It is so important that the world see Democrats, Republicans, Independents, all of us coming together on this issue. And to Mr. Payne, let me just thank you again for your leadership, for being oftentimes the lone voice in the wilderness and for staying there and plugging along and making sure that this House and the other body puts this as a priority because you knew early on what was taking place when many did not. So thank you for your leadership. And let me also thank Mr. Royce and all of those who have been working and in the forefront of this effort because all of us understand now that we can no longer stand by as millions of innocent people are being displaced and hundreds of thousands are being murdered. I visited Chad and Sudan last year with Chairman Royce and the Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle, and let me tell you we visited those refugee camps on the Chadian-Sudanese border. Children drew pictures of airplanes flying with bombs dropping. Then they had the helicopters going underneath the airplanes. Then the militia, the Janjaweed on the horses, coming in burning and raping women and kidnapping people. These pictures were vivid that the children painted. It convinced me that the Khartoum government was clearly responsible for this slaughter. We visited also just recently with our great minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, El Fasher and the refugee camps around the AU headquarters. Quite frankly, it has gotten worse. I want to thank Congresswoman Pelosi for her leadership, because we were able once again, and you heard her earlier, to visit the refugee camps and talk to people and see and learn what we must do in order to stop this slaughter. This is an important bill. It addresses not only the immediate needs of the Darfurian people, but also the long-term goals of a political settlement. First of all, it also asks the Secretary of State to declare the Janjaweed a terrorist organization, because that is what it is, and we need to be very clear on that. The AU is currently doing a remarkable job, and this legislation helps us to help the AU in a better way in terms of providing for more support. They need more troops. This legislation also blocks assets and restricts travel of any individual the President determines is responsible for acts of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. It also supports the International Criminal Court's efforts to prosecute those responsible for acts of genocide in Darfur. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that my provision for capital market sanctions, which our subcommittee approved unanimously, did not stay in the bill as it moved forward, but my provision to support state- sponsored divestment campaigns throughout our Nation is in there. I want to thank our Chairs for making sure that that is there, because efforts to divest from companies that support the Khartoum regime should be applauded and the growing divestment movement must be supported. The University of California is getting ready to divest, Harvard University has divested, Stanford has divested, as well as the States of Illinois, New Jersey and Oregon. These provisions with regard to divestment are very important. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes sure that we step up to the plate now and put some teeth into our declaration of genocide. We cannot have another Rwanda, Mr. Speaker. One million people died, and all we could do there was go there later and apologize. Sometimes you see some of us wearing ``Not on Our Watch, Save Darfur,'' because we do not intend to have on our watch another genocide of that magnitude. 200,000 people is too many already. One person is too many. So this bill will help us address the growing humanitarian crisis, and also the security crisis. In the long run, of course, we know that we must have a political solution and a peace accord. I want to thank all of you, again, for making sure this remained a bipartisan effort.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to highlight the cuts in the Republican budget resolution that target low-income children and women. A number of Federal block grants that help women, especially single and low-income mothers, are going to be forced to cut services to families as a result of these cuts in the Republican budget. Also, there will be continued flat funding. Child Care Development Block Grant funding is frozen for the fifth year in a row. Since the beginning of the Bush administration, child care assistance for 250,000 children has been cut. In the next 5 years, 400,000 fewer children will receive child care assistance. This means that 25 percent fewer children will receive assistance in 2011 than did in 2000; and during the President's tenure the number of children living in poverty has increased, not decreased. This is an immoral budget. It sacrifices funding for our children to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. It should be soundly rejected. We talk about welfare reform and we talk about women being able to work, how in the heck are women going to work if child care is not available.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Audrey Yvonne Willson, whose spiritual evolution led to her being known at the end of her life as Yve-I Rastafari. Yve-I was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, friend, artist, educator and leader in our community and our world. She passed away on March 13, 2006 at the age of 63. Born Audrey Yvonne Willson, she grew up in the Fort Greene Projects of Brooklyn, New York, where she developed the quick wit and savvy nature for which she was known throughout her life. Living in New York, she met and married Bob Law in 1962. During that period, she became an active member of the Congress for Racial Equality, and was at the forefront of the Black Cultural/Consciousness movement, identifying strongly with her African heritage as an activist of that era and throughout her life. In the decade that followed, Audrey began a new journey, moving to Silver Spring, Maryland and obtaining her Masters Degree in Education as well as her Montessori certification. These achievements began her lifelong devotion to the education and healthy development of children, which included her own young daughters, and ultimately led Audrey to create her own educational model. Audrey's journey of intellectual, cultural and spiritual discovery soon led her to West Africa, where she immediately fell in love with the people, their land, and their struggles. Her proficiency in the Spanish, Twi, Amharic and Arabic languages allowed her to be a teacher and a student of the people she met there, and through her travels she forged human and spiritual ties that would last a lifetime. In the years that followed, her newfound faith of Islam led her to change her name to Ameena, and during her time in Africa she met and married her second husband, an American named Daud Malik Watts. Upon her return to the United States, she rededicated herself to her life's mission of serving our young people by opening, with Daud, the Reston Montessori School in Virginia. As she continued her spiritual exploration in the 1980s, she was led to return to her birth name of Audrey. During that time she also traveled frequently to the west coast and split her time between working in the non-profit sector and developing her own small business selling her delicious homemade apple pies. As she neared the conclusion of her spiritual journey, she changed her name to Yve-I Rastafari, which was a reflection of her becoming a Rastafarian. In the 1990s, when she underwent this transition, she also moved to Hawaii, where she started Artists for Orphans, an international non- profit dedicated to providing educational, financial, physical and emotional support to orphans in Ethiopia. After devoting herself to this bold, compassionate work for more than a decade, Yve-I left Hawaii to move back northeast to be with her ailing father, caring for him until his last day. After his passing, she returned to working with young children in Washington, D.C. before ultimately moving to California to be with and care for her youngest grandchildren. Yve-I gave of herself easily and was wonderful with children. I witnessed time and time again, as she was the mother-in-law to my son, and along with me, was a grandmother to Simone the daughter of my son and her daughter. Whether we were together at family gatherings on special occasions or simply spending time with our children and grandchildren, Yve-I's generous and loving spirit brought a sense of comfort and togetherness to our family which has not only nurtured our youngest members, but has strengthened the ties between us all. Throughout her life, Yve-I was fully dedicated to complete spiritual and human development and her devotion to becoming the most complete and aware person that she could was evidenced by her constant growth and personal evolution. At the end of her life it became her goal to return to Ethiopia to live out her days so that she could continue the work of Artists for Orphans and practice her religion at an age-old founding church of her faith, and that is what she did, being laid to rest on March 17, 2006 in Shashamene, Ethiopia, where she was known as Mama Love. She is survived by her life partner, Menelek Fitzgerald, her children Aisha Patrice, Abina, Yasmina, Memuna, Bilqis, Nasir, Mahmud, and Netanya; her siblings Adrienne, Donald and Wayne; thirteen grandchildren; her nephews; and numerous cousins, colleagues and friends. Today the family and friends of the woman who journeyed from Audrey to Yve-I come together to celebrate her life and the countless ways in which her bright and compassionate spirit touched lives of others, no matter what name they knew her by during her lifetime. Her giving nature and deep wisdom was known to and cherished by all, and will continue to lift up the lives of our young people and all who knew her for generations to come. On behalf of California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, I am proud to add my voice to the countless others who have united in thanks, appreciation, and joy to remember this very special, remarkable and loving woman, Yve-I Rastafari.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, tonight I join my colleagues in highlighting the detrimental effects the President's fiscal year 2007 budget will have on women. From health and education, to the protection and development of women and girls internationally, this administration intends to cut funding in programs that are vital to women's well-being and development. Worse still Mr. Speaker, many of the programs that the President intends to cut disproportionately impact minority women negatively. For example, in the area of health, the fiscal year 2007 budget cuts $1 million out of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. This is a critical facility that directs money and technical assistance to organizations working with minorities on diseases that disproportionately kill women, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Additionally, the President's budget would cut funds from the minority HIV/AIDS initiative which actively seeks to address the prevention and treatment needs of minority communities heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. The budget cuts the Office of Minority Health by a staggering $11 million and the Office on Women's Health would receive a significant cut. It's not just health that is slashed in the President's budget. The President proposes cutting funding for education initiatives for homeless children and youth by $600,000 and cut Pell grants by a whopping $430 million--with an award cap of $4,050. Furthermore, the President has proposed a $1 million decrease to fair housing assistance programs for our most needy. Mr. Speaker, I could stand here all night and list the outrageous cuts in health, education, and housing programs the President's budget would inflict, but I would be remiss if I didn't also highlight the cuts to programs that guarantee the safety of women domestically and abroad. One of the most successful programs to prevent violence against women while funding the prosecution of those who have committed those crimes, the Violence Against Women Act or VAWA, will face a potential $39.5 million cut. Additionally, women's health is the President's proposed $2 million cut to the United Nations Development Fund and a $9 million cut to the United Nations Population Fund will jeopardize the health and safety of women around the world. Mr. Speaker, our budget is a moral document. It reflects the values of our Nation. I'm sad to say these aren't the values that my sisters in Congress and across the country hold dear. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to think about what a budget like the one the President has proposed means to each and everyone of their constituents. You can't tell me we can't do better.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 609. I ask you, when will the raid on student aid stop? H.R. 609 continues to deepen the wound already inflicted by the Republican tax reconciliation bill that cut $12 billion in student loans, an continues the damage in President's proposed budget. Mr. Chairman, today's students are taking out more loans, working longer hours, and graduating with record amounts of debt, yet this bill does nothing to increase the Pell grant. The goal should be to make college affordable and accessible for all. Yet again, with this bill the Republican leadership's rhetoric is out of step with its actions. Attempts to make this misguided bill better have been stifled. Mr. Chairman, for example, I offered an amendment with the purpose of helping those who help our students. Unfortunately, my amendment hasn't been made in order. My amendment would include those who work as school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists in the student loan forgiveness program. Currently, the U.S. national average student-to-counselor ratio is 488: 1. In contrast, the maximum recommended student-to-counselor ratio is 250: 1. Sadly, some schools don't even have one full-time counselor. Mr. Chairman, my home State of California ranks last in student-to- counselor ratios, at the astounding rate of 945 students for every 1 counselor. School counselors provide valuable skills and coping strategies for dealing with issues as diverse as home issues, career counseling, college placement and academic issues, conflict resolution, and drug and alcohol issues. Congress intended loan forgiveness to encourage education professionals to serve in needy areas of the country. Counselors do a great deal to help improve students' readiness to learn, their quality of life at school, and their consequent educational achievement. Mr. Chairman, let's make sure we are making our future the priority, and stop this on-going raid on student aid.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in the cause of democracy, peace, and justice throughout the world. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Resolution 353, which congratulates the people of Haiti on holding peaceful and democratic elections on February 7. And I want to thank Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her bold leadership and for bringing forth this resolution immediately in full support of the Haitian people and their right to once again decide who will lead their democracy and to restore the rule of law in Haiti. In supporting this legislation, we also congratulate President-Elect Rene Garcia Preval, a man who, I am confident, will restore peace, human rights, and accountability throughout Haiti and within Haiti's government. Mr. Speaker, with over 2.2 million Haitians, more than 60 percent of registered voters, participating in these elections, it is clear to me that the people of Haiti are ready for peace and willing to do whatever it takes, whatever it takes to restore and secure their democracy once again. Since the undemocratic removal of former President Aristide in 2004, Haiti's health, education, and economic sectors have spiraled into ruin. During the last 2 years, unemployment reached a staggering 90 percent in parts of Haiti. For months, schools remained closed and children feared kidnapping or death on the city streets. The only public hospitals that many of Haiti's poor could rely on were centers run by international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders or the International Red Cross. Public hospitals and government services were either closed or too dangerous to utilize. People feared kidnapping, assault, and even murder walking out of their homes and onto the streets. However, the Haitian people have voted for a change, Mr. Speaker. Haiti now has an opportunity to set its own course through responsive government that puts people first. President Preval has demonstrated that he understands how to turn around Haiti's economy while still preserving the rights of all Haitians, especially Haiti's poor, and by raising the standard of living, increasing job opportunities and education for Haiti's poor. During his first tenure, from 1996 to 2001, as president, Mr. Preval found ways to build hundreds of miles of road, dozens of schools, health centers. He transformed thousands of acres of land into peasants' hands and organized the two most famous and successful human rights trials in Haiti's history. An international response, however, right now will be necessary in order to make Haiti's hopeful possibilities for a future a reality. That is why the Congressional Black Caucus, Haiti Task Force, the House International Relations Committee, Congresswoman Waters, Mr. Foley, myself, all of us, Democrats and Republicans, in a bipartisan way are committed to making Haiti's future a bright one by supporting their duly-elected president. Haiti will also need our financial support and technical assistance if it is to overcome the challenges it faces in its economy and its infrastructure and its ability to provide basic services to all Haitians. We must support a restoration of security by helping to get guns off the street and support an international effort to establish a national truth and reconciliation commission. Also, we must support and move forward all of the trade efforts and aid efforts; we have got to increase these efforts, and also additional resources for fighting the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which Haiti has the highest rates in the Caribbean. These are items which are key to securing order and peace in Haiti, securing the people's choice. And this is what happened now, the people have made a decision once again. The people's choice is Mr. Preval, and we have got to make sure that we help him to do everything he can to turn Haiti around. The Haitian people deserve no less.