Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Nichols for his lifetime of national and international public service. He has been a tireless champion for economic, social and civil justice for more than 50 years. He once stated, ``education is critical in achieving national goals. Most people forget that the U.S. Constitution was written as a mission statement to establish social justice . . . And, public schools must foster a sense of justice under which people of diverse economic, social, and racial backgrounds can become great.'' In his efforts to help bring equity to under-served communities, Bishop Nichols has served as Chairman of Oakland's Human Relations Commission and President of the Sequoyah Heights Board of Directors. He has also served as a consultant, lecturer, preacher, interim pastor and Bishop in Residence. In the late '50s and throughout the 60's, Bishop Nichols, then Pastor of Downs Memorial United Methodist Church in North Oakland, joined with national leaders to advocate for civic, economic, social and educational justice in the Bay Area. He was chair of the Berkeley NAACP Education Committee, President of the Berkeley Board of Education (four years before the school district became the first to voluntarily integrate schools), and hosted the first Black Panthers' Breakfast. Since 1968, Bishop Nichols has worked from several different positions to raise the principles of justice in the faith community. He was a member of the Executive & Central Committees of the World Council of Churches of Geneva, Switzerland; President of Christian Associates in Western Pennsylvania; President of the Council of Bishops for the United Methodist Church; President of the New York Council of Church Executives; and President of Africa University's Development Committee. Finally as we honor him tonight, I want to thank him on behalf of the entire 9th Congressional District for being a great religious and civil leader. Bishop Nichols has been a friend who has shared his wisdom and has given me support. I take great pride in joining Bishop Nichols' friends and colleagues to salute the extraordinary Roy C. Nichols.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Peggy Baxter for her generous contributions to the community and to the patients of Oakland Children's Hospital. A resident of Oakland, Ms. Baxter has been the Administrative Director of Governmental and Community Affairs at Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland. Serving a diverse population, the hospital is both a regional pediatric referral center for Northern California and the medical safety net for thousands of uninsured Bay Area children. Ms. Baxter is charged with keeping elected officials and community leaders aware of the impact of societal problems on the patients and families of Children's Hospital Oakland. Ms. Baxter has long been an advocate of women taking decision-making roles in the political process. Her work on behalf of women seeking elected office began during her college years and includes fund-raising and campaign management. She is a founding member of Black Women Organized for Political Action and was president of the Oakland- Berkeley Chapter. Peggy Baxter served on the Board of Directors of the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute and Lincoln Child Center. She was president of the Alameda County Unit of the American Cancer Society and was secretary of the California Division of the American Cancer Society. At Beth Eden Baptist in Oakland, she is Vice Chairman of Trustees. Ms. Baxter received her Bachelor degree in sociology and education from Hampton University in Virginia and holds a Masters degree in social work from the University of Denver. Ms. Baxter has been an assiduous champion of women and children throughout her career. She has been not only a friend but a hero to me and countless others. I thank her for her wisdom, her counsel, and her assistance throughout the years. I want to congratulate Peggy as she retires and wish her godspeed as she begins this exciting new chapter of her life. I am honored to join Ms. Baxter's family, friends and colleagues to salute the phenomenal Peggy B. Baxter.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness and deep respect in paying tribute to a woman with the courage to envision a peaceful world. Mrs. Edith Brisker Villastrigo passed away on Sunday, August 26, 2001, in Silver Spring, MD. Mrs. Villastrigo's commitment and dedication to peace in the world, as well as to other issues affecting women spanned for more than four decades. Mrs. Villastrigo immigrated to the United States from Gomel, Russia, in the 1920s. Her long record of activism began with union organizing in Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, PA. A visionary and advocate for peace, Mrs. Villastrigo helped lead the Women Strike for Peace organization, opposed the Vietnam War and challenged the Nixon administration and its policies by protesting at the Washington Monument. In the 1980s, she fought for peace on an even broader scale, helping to lead protests against Star Wars and nuclear proliferation. Her passion inspired us all. Mrs. Villastrigo's death represents a tremendous loss to the peace community as well to her family, friends, admirers, and supporters. But as we mourn her death, we also remember the legacy of hope and inspiration Edith left behind as a true leader and voice for peace. Her passion and mission for peace show us how one person's vision, dreams and actions can inspire and make a difference for all who seek peace in the world. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the late Mrs. Villastrigo's children, her sister, her grandchildren, her friends and supporters throughout the world. To Mrs. Villastrigo--may the world receive the love, peace, and compassion you gave it. God Bless.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of International Women's Day and to urge the U.S. Senate to ratify The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is the only comprehensive international treaty guaranteeing women's human rights and the prevention of discrimination against women. This treaty requires States to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life, law, education, employment, health care, commercial transactions, and domestic relations. In the past few months, we have been actively engaged in our continous struggle for freedom and equality for women around the world. CEDAW is highly critical to ensuring that Afghanistan will have a democratic government that protects and upholds fundamental human rights for women. Under the Taliban regime, women in Afghanistan had no rights. They were unable to hold jobs, go to school, or leave their homes unless accompanied by a close male relative. Now that the Taliban has been toppled, we must work together to implement CEDAW within the new Afghan government. CEDAW will ensure that women in Afghanistan will have the right to an education, health care, employment, and other basic rights. However, it is unfortunate that since the United States has not ratified CEDAW, we cannot employ CEDAW's universal standards in our efforts to assist the women in Afghanistan. CEDAW is a tool that women around the world are using in their struggle against the effects of discrimination including violence against women, poverty, lack of legal status, right to inherit or own property, and much more. Most of these problems exist here in the United States. Now is the time for the U.S. Senate to ratify CEDAW in our fight to promote human rights for women worldwide. CEDAW will give the force of international law to our efforts on behalf of women's rights. I urge the Senate to ratify CEDAW and give women the rights they have been denied for so long.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for votes Tuesday or Wednesday, due to official business in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted: Tuesday, March 5, 2002: ``Yea'' on H. Con. Res. 305, Permitting The Use Of the Rotunda For A Ceremony To Present A Congressional Gold Medal To Former President Ronald Reagan And Nancy Reagan. Wednesday, March 6, 2002: ``Yea'' on the Journal vote; ``nay'' on House Resolution 354, the rule for considering seven suspension bills, because I believe we should be passing meaningful unemployment insurance relief for laid-off workers first; and ``Yea'' on S.J. Res. 32--Congratulating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point On Its Bicentennial Anniversary.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of preserving Social Security and protecting millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities from the dangers of privatization and from the problems of raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. Today, there are approximately 45 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits in our nation. Over 4 million of these individuals reside in the state of California but Americans all over our nation depend on this benefit as a major source of retirement income. Currently, Social Security provides guaranteed, lifelong benefits. No matter what the stock market does the day you retire or in the months leading up to your retirement, your benefits will be unaffected. While the Bush Administration's budget proposes to raid the Social Security Trust Fund, they also believe in privatizing parts of Social Security. Unfortunately, privatization plans and cuts to the Social Security budget will hit women the hardest. Poverty among American women over 65 is already twice as severe as among men over 65. Women are also more likely to earn less than men and are more likely to live longer. Women also lose an average of 14 years of earnings due to time out of the workforce (to raise children or to care for ailing parents or spouses) and since women generally have a higher incidence of part-time employment, they have less of an opportunity to save for retirement. The current Social Security program recognizes this problem; however, most privatization proposals make no provision for these differences and would thus make poverty among women even worse. Many women depend on Social Security income to survive. What will happen to these individuals when the Social Security Trust Fund is completely raided and substituted by a destructive privatization plan? This Congress has an obligation to strengthen Social Security because working people have earned and deserve Social Security. We must work to ensure that Social Security survives for our seniors today as well as for our future generations. We owe it to the American people who have paid into the system for so long. We must increase the flow of funds into Social Security, not divert funds from it. The Bush Administration's budget specifically proposes to divert $1.5 trillion of the Social Security Trust Fund surplus to other programs over the next ten years, effectively raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. While the budget provides a $48 billion increase in defense spending, it calls for a $15.8 billion decrease in domestic programs. Providing for our homeland security is critical, but it cannot come at the expense of our seniors. President Bush's proposals on Social Security directly harm our seniors' entitlement to retirement benefits. The Bush Administration must understand that privatization does not eliminate the challenges Social Security must confront, it exacerbates them and puts millions of people at risk. If the Bush Administration continues to spend the surplus unwisely and promote privatization, our seniors will be without a retirement program. President Bush, please don't raid the Social Security Trust Fund. Our seniors are depending on you.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for once again educating us and for all of her work on behalf of everyone in our country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Listening to the gentleman from Michigan is like listening to a history book. The gentleman reminds us how far we have come and how far we have to go. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a great woman who fights every day on behalf of her constituents.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for that very wonderful and thorough history lesson, and I thank her also for representing us, all who live here sometime during the week, for being our representative. Mr. Speaker, I would like now to yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking Democrat on the Committee on the Judiciary, our great leader, and one who makes history each and every day here in this House of Representatives.

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas for reminding us in a very clear and forthright fashion of the unfinished business of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton), a great woman who constantly and consistently reminds us of the needs of rural America and of all of those issues that America needs to address in each and every one of our policy decisions.

Ms. LEE. Well, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Georgia for speaking the truth and for reminding us of another chapter of American history and black history. I thank her very much. I would like now to yield to my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who is a champion for civil rights not only here in the District of Columbia but throughout our country. She is a champion and defender of our Constitution, and one of these days there will be voting rights for all residents of the District of Columbia thanks to her and her constituents.

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), a great African American shero.

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) for that very eloquent statement and also for actually working every day of your life to make the American dream real for all. I would like to now recognize my colleague, the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), a fighter for justice and human rights both here at home and abroad.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), for her leadership on issues affecting African Americans, all minorities in this country, in fact, the entire country, for everyone and for bringing us together here tonight. As she reminded us so eloquently, in 1903 W.E.B. DuBois wrote The Souls of Black Folks and stated that, ``the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line.'' Now here in the 21st century, nearly 100 years after the publishing of his groundbreaking work, we really do face many of the same problems, and they are further complicated by an economic divide. While African Americans have made great strides in many areas in the last 100 years, including the end of Jim Crow and legalized segregation, the color line is still evident and is still costly to African Americans and really to the entire Nation. Some feel that because legal segregation was ended and that the Civil Rights Act was passed and affirmative action exists in some States, some believe that racism has ended. But I ask you tonight to consider the unfortunate new manifestations of racism as they exist in the year 2002 when we ask the question, is racism dead? There are more than 44 million people in this country without health insurance. Nearly 20 percent of African Americans have no health insurance. Thirty percent of children living in poverty are African American. That is about 3.5 million children. Forty percent of black men in urban areas do not graduate from high school. There are more young African American men under the control of the criminal justice system than enrolled in higher education. The unemployment rate for blacks is 12.2 percent compared with 5.5 percent for white. Homicide is the leading cause of deaths for black males between 15 and 24, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among young black males. Black men in inner-city neighborhoods are less likely to reach the age of 65 than men in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world. Since December of 2000, over 130,000 AIDS cases were reported among women in the United States. Almost two-thirds of all women with AIDS are African Americans. And young girls make up about 58 percent of new AIDS cases among teens in the United States. Blacks are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS than whites and 10 times more likely to die from this disease. African Americans in this country were emancipated from slavery and given no compensation for their forced labor nor for that of their ancestors. Following this, legalized and institutional segregation marginalized African Americans to separate and unequal education, health services and protections under the law. This was the inequality that Dr. DuBois was speaking of in 1903, but these inequalities continued to exist and define the state of affairs for much of black America. Is racism dead? I do not think so. African Americans are still dealing with this terrible legacy of slavery, racism, social and political and economic marginalization. Until we erase the health disparities, education disparities, unequal economic opportunities, and ensure that there are equal protections under the law, including making sure, may I say, that the votes of African Americans are as likely to be counted as whites in our elections, we have to acknowledge, we have to be clear about this, that the color line does exist and that there is much to do in terms of seeking liberty and justice for African Americans. So the question now should be, what does this Congress and this administration have the will to do about this? We all have a duty, a responsibility to fight for equality and justice. As Dr. W.E.B. DuBois reminded us so eloquently 100 years ago, he said, ``By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights that the world accords to men and women clinging unwaiveringly to those great words which the sons of the fathers would feign forget, 'We hold those truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.''' Again, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) for bringing us together tonight. As we celebrate Black History Month, as it comes to a close, let us celebrate our achievements but remain vigilant on the issues that affect the millions of African Americans in this country.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, I want to urge my colleagues once again to support this resolution, and I want to thank Chairman Royce and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for bringing this to the attention of this body and of the entire country. I know that our country will continue to rise to the occasion in addressing the great humanitarian crises that the people of the Republic of the Congo are facing. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I want to thank our subcommittee chair, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), for his leadership and his support on all the issues which we deal with as it relates to Africa; and I would like to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for introducing this very important and very compassionate resolution; and I urge all of our colleagues here today to support its passage. This resolution offers our condolences to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who were tragically affected by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on January 17. Madam Speaker, before dawn on January 17, the volcano, located 60 miles north of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, began to erupt without warning. This volcano, the eruption was really the most destructive to occur in Africa during the last 25 years. The lava flow from the eruption was a mile wide in places and destroyed a major cathedral, the water plant of Goma and countless buildings and surrounding villages. Dangers from fires, toxic fumes, reoccurring tremors and natural methane gas under Lake Kivu plagued Goma after the first tremors ceased. Madam Speaker, according to the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations, a total of 400,000 Goma residents, 400,000, were affected by this eruption; 147 people died and more than 150,000 residents lost their homes. The eruption destroyed crops and contaminated the main water supply which threatened to trigger a cholera epidemic. The suddenness of the recent Nyiragongo eruption also resulted in the separation of many children from their parents. This is really a humanitarian disaster of enormous potential. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend Mr. Dieudonne Wafula, a Congolese vulcanologist, who predicted the volcano's eruption and actually sent e-mails to experts around the world, including to our own country, one week before the lava began flowing on January 17. His work was very integral to setting up an international survey team to monitor the behavior of the volcano after the major eruption, thereby avoiding a further calamity to the residents of Goma. Madam Speaker, I would also like to commend the United States Agency for International Development for its very swift response to this crisis. Monetary support, relief commodities, including blankets, water jugs, water stations, dust masks, seismographic equipment and emergency food aid, were among the relief support provided by our government. The total value of that assistance to date is near $4.4 million. We have responded in a good way to the crisis suffered by the people of Goma. Many residents in that poor region live on less than $1 per day and really had no way to deal with the immediate tragedy caused by the volcano. I am pleased that the United States government, through our development agency, was there to help. Madam Speaker, now the immediate crisis has passed, but the lingering effects may require further cooperation between the United States, USAID and the United Nations and other government agencies. So I trust that we will be willing to step up to the plate should the need exist and we are called upon to help. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 304; and, Madam Speaker, I want to once again commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for bringing this to the attention not only of this body but of the entire country. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the congressperson who has introduced this resolution.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose this amendment which doubles the amount of money an individual can donate to a candidate, known as hard money, from $1,000 to $2,000. This amendment really is a complete step backwards in trying to get money out of our political system. As Public Campaign states in its report called ``The Color of Money,'' it is an indisputable fact of our political system that those candidates and laws favored by wealthy contributors usually prevail over those would-be backers who cannot afford to give such large sums of money. Now, because of wage disparities and lower incomes in minority and poor communities, these constituencies just do not have large amounts of money to contribute to campaigns. We only further disenfranchise them if we raise the amount of hard money that an individual can contribute. Also this hard-money system makes it much harder for women, people of color, and low-income people to run for office. It is really undemocratic. Allowing that amount to be doubled will only give wealthy people even more influence in our political system. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote no on this very discriminatory amendment. We should be reducing the hard-money limits, rather than increasing them.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose the Wamp amendment, which doubles the amount of money an individual can donate to a candidate, known as hard money, from $1000 to $2000. I personally believe that we should decrease this maximum amount by 50% to $500 if we are really serious about campaign finance reform. The Wamp amendment is a complete step backwards in trying to get the money out of our political system. As Public Campaign states in its report, The Color of Money, ``It is an indisputable fact of our political system that those candidates and laws favored by wealthy contributors usually prevail over those whose backers, or would-be backers, cannot afford to give large sums. As American University law professor Jamin Raskin has stated, this system is `every bit as exclusionary to poorer candidates and voters as the regime of the high filing fee and the poll tax' was in discriminating against African Americans and poor people in the South.'' Because of wage disparities and lower incomes in minority and poor communities, these constituencies don't have the resources to contribute to campaigns. We only further disenfranchise them if we raise the amount of hard money that an individual can contribute. Additionally, this hard money system makes it much harder for women, people of color, and low-income people to run for office. This is undemocratic. Allowing that amount to be doubled will only give wealthy people even more influence in our political system. We see that influence every day. For example, wealthy Enron and Arthur Andersen executives gave almost $800,000 in $1000 contributions since the 1990 election cycle according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Do we want to give these executives even more influence over Congress? A 2000 poll by the Mellman group found that 81 percent of voters either support lowering the $1000 hard money limit or keeping it the same. The American people oppose the Wamp amendment and we should, too. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this very discriminatory amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2356, the bipartisan Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform legislation. It is time that we take the soft money out of our political system. In fact, not only do I support eliminating soft money, but I support full public financing for campaigns. I am hopeful that once Shays- Meehan passes and is signed into law that we can focus our efforts on passing legislation to provide for public financing. I am proud to be a cosponsor of Shays-Meehan and a signer of the discharge petition to bring this important legislation to the floor today. I want to thank the sponsors of this legislation especially for committing to voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, which are essential for the election of minority candidates. The Enron scandal has shown us once again the importance of passing meaningful campaign finance reform. While Enron and Arthur Andersen executives and the corporations donated over $11 million to political campaigns since 1989, workers at Enron lost their jobs and their life savings. This is an outrage and once again shows the need for corporate responsibility and of course for passage of Shays-Meehan. Let's get the money out of politics. That's what campaign finance reform is all about. That means banning soft money and certainly not increasing hard money. Let's defeat these amendments that take us in the wrong direction, those that take us away from real reform. I urge my colleagues to vote for a clean Shays-Meehan bill and to defeat all poison pill amendments.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues to recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. I want to thank my colleague, Maxine Waters for organizing tonight's special orders. Today, African American communities, including AIDS service organizations, city governments and people living with HIV/AIDS will acknowledge National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day through community events, vigils and by volunteering their services to organizations who provide HIV/AIDS services. These efforts will help raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. In my district, the Alameda County Health Department, partners in the Alameda County State of Emergency Task Force and the faith community will also hold day long community events to mark this occasion. Three years ago the State of Emergency Task Force and the Alameda County Health Department helped to declare a Public Health Emergency on HIV/AIDS in the African American community. Since then, more resources have reached the community making an positive impact. In Alameda County, we are slowly seeing a decrease in new HIV infections. However, we must not slow our efforts to curb this deadly disease. Since the first AIDS diagnosis over 20 years ago, AIDS has devastated America's Black community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that for the first time in 8 years, HIV/AIDS case rates are rising in the United States. The CDC estimates 900,000 people living in the U.S. with HIV/AIDS, with approximately 40,000 new infections every year. African-Americans lead the number of these new infection rates. Blacks represent 12% of the Nation's population yet, they account for 47% of new AIDS cases. Since December 2000, over 130,000 AIDS cases were reported among women in the U.S. Almost \2/3\ of all women with AIDS are African American. And, girls make up 58% of new AIDS cases among teens in the U.S. Blacks are ten times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS than whites and ten times more likely to die from the disease. The CDC also estimates that 30% of young, gay, black men are infected with the AIDS virus. Including the incidence of HIV/AIDS among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans, racial minorities now represent a majority of new AIDS cases and a majority of Americans living with AIDS. It is imperative that National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day serve as a platform to educate people about the impact of HIV/AIDS on African-Americans and draw attention to the need for increased resources for the fight against this devastating disease. On World AIDS Day, President Bush promised to provide the necessary resources to combat the AIDS pandemic and ensure that people living with HIV and AIDS would receive effective care and treatment. It appears that the President only meant those words on World AIDS Day because these priority is not reflected in his budget. In fact domestic AIDS programs are flat funded despite the spike in new infection rates. We must remember that AIDS is also reaching far across our shores--in Africa, the motherland of many Black Americans, AIDS is decimating societies. HIV/AIDS is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time! So as we gather in the African-American community and in communities across the nation, together, we must work to increase the level of resource committed to fight this disease.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely do wish former President Reagan and his wife well on his birthday and my thoughts and prayers are with them as he deals with the terrible disease of Alzheimer's; however, the resolution went well beyond a simple birthday wish. I could not in good faith cast a vote for a bill that stated that the Reagan Administration ensured renewed economic prosperity when millions of Americans were hurt by its economic policies and the federal government incurred massive deficit spending.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate and honor our new minority whip, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), I also must really thank her for being such a role model. As a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend to many, a great humanitarian and a phenomenal leader, Ms. Pelosi has really demonstrated that women can do it all at the same time. Nancy Pelosi's congressional district is right across the Bay Bridge from my district. Her constituents have recognized her intellect, her passion, and her coalition-building ability by electing her to the House of Representatives eight times. Now, as minority whip, these same attributes and values will be brought to our leadership team to meet the challenges of this new millennium. No one is more qualified to lead than Ms. Pelosi. She understands that education is the soundest investment we can make as a Nation to secure our future. She understands that access to quality health care, affordable housing, job and pension security, and a commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS pandemic are essential to our economic and national security. And she knows that job security and economic security are not Democratic or Republican issues, but American issues that deserve bipartisan support. As a true leader on international issues, Ms. Pelosi cares about our foreign policy and fights to ensure that our foreign aid is directed toward the betterment of humankind. She has been a powerful and relentless ally in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS in San Francisco as well as in Africa and throughout the world. Her deep commitment to civil rights and civil liberties here at home and her unwavering support for human rights abroad have given us all a standard for justice and equality. On October 10, 2001, exactly 90 years to the day after women won the right to vote in California, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) was elected by her colleagues to become our Democratic House whip, the highest ranking woman in the 212-year history of this institution. This victory is really a great triumph for our Nation. Ms. Pelosi has broken through a glass ceiling that has long kept women from reaching the upper echelons of power in this House. As she said shortly after being elected, ``We made history; now we have to make progress.'' Nancy, congratulations on earning this place in history. Congratulations and Godspeed as you accept this place of distinction in the people's House. I know that there are many girls and young women throughout the world who are saying, ``When I grow up, I want to be just like Congresswoman Pelosi.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this resolution. I want to be very clear: I strongly support inspection of Iraqi weapons facilities. This resolution, however, is not the best way to accomplish that goal. We clearly stand at a moment in history when we must reinvent our foreign policy to meet new challenges. Renewed arms inspections of Iraq should be part of that new matrix, but smarter sanctions and humanitarian engagement must also be undertaken. Engagement is crucial. We should work with our allies to forge a policy that strengthens the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East. There are some who call for an invasion of Iraq. I am strongly opposed to such a step. Opposition to a United States assault on Iraq is found not only in the capitals of the Middle East but throughout much of the rest of the world as well. International leaders such as United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and former South African President Nelson Mandela have strongly voiced their opposition to such an attack, arguing that the only lasting solutions lie in collective international efforts. As Kofi Annan said earlier this month, ``Any attempt or any decision to attack Iraq today will be unwise and could lead to a major escalation in the region.'' President Mandela warned that bombing Iraq would be a disaster that would inject ``chaos into international affairs.'' Therefore, I must oppose this resolution not because I oppose inspections but because I believe it is too inflammatory and will make inspections less likely, not more likely. This is the wrong resolution at the wrong time. At this moment we face a crisis in the Middle East as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict threatens to spin out of control. That must be the epicenter of our concern right now. Yes, we want inspections, but this is not the best way to achieve them.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Martin Hardy of Glendale, Arizona, who began his career with the FAA in 1971, as an Air Traffic Controller at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. With over 30 years of air traffic experience in the Phoenix and Los Angeles areas, Martin has served in a variety of capacities, including Air Traffic Controller (Sky Harbor & Burbank Airports); Operational Supervisor (Burbank TRACON/ Tower & Phoenix Approach Control Facility); Assistant Training Manager (Phoenix Approach Control Facility); Assistant Air Traffic Manager (Phoenix TRACON, Phoenix Tower, Phoenix TRACON and Tower); Air Traffic Manager (Tucson TRACON & Phoenix Tower); and Staff Specialist (National Headquarters--Washington, DC, and Regional Headquarters--Los Angeles, CA). He has remained in a supervisory or management role since 1984 and has been committed to providing safe air traffic service to the nation. Throughout the past 10 years, Martin has been involved in all stages of change and progress during the tremendous growth period in the Phoenix region. He established exceptional working relationships with many airline representatives in the industry and has remained involved in the coordination of air traffic control procedures for the third runway and north runway construction projects at Sky Harbor Airport. Martin's extensive knowledge of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the cities of Phoenix and Tempe has allowed him to work closely with the City of Phoenix and with the community in mitigating the noise concerns around Sky Harbor Airport. He has represented the FAA on the following state and local committees: City of Phoenix Sky Harbor Part 150 Study; City of Peoria Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee; State of Arizona Committee for the Preservation of Military Airports; Maricopa Association of Governments; Williams Gateway Airport Part 150 Study; and Phoenix Airspace user Workgroup (PAUWG). He has also served as a member of NBCFAE (National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees). Martin attended San Fernando Valley State College in San Fernando, CA. Throughout his career he has completed a multitude of courses at the FAA Center for Management Development, Palm Coast, Florida. He is a native of Eunice, Louisiana, he and his wife, Beverly, of 31 years, reside in Glendale, AZ. They are the proud parents of 3 children-- Nicole, Nichelle and Martin II. Martin is retiring from his current position of Assistant Air Traffic Manager at the FAA Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility located at Sky Harbor Airport, where he has directed a staff of approximately 80 personnel, and maintained responsibility for the radar operations, procedures, automation, and administrative functions of the facility for the past 3 years. I applaud his great achievements and hard work during his noteworthy career. FAA employees have long guarded the safety and security of our airways, and Martin Hardy has had an exemplary career in serving his country in this way. Congratulations on your retirement and best wishes as you enter a new chapter in your life.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 309, legislation which I introduced to honor the United States Capitol Police. I would like to thank our lead Republican cosponsor, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Ney) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and also the leadership in both parties, for bringing this important resolution to the House floor today. The terrorist attacks of September 11 have created a uniquely difficult environment for the Capitol Police. New security measures have been implemented, requiring the police to work longer hours, sometimes 12 hours and longer a day, oftentimes 6 days a week. The Capitol Police have had to go even further above and beyond the call of duty to protect Members of Congress, staff and many of our visitors. The Capitol Police have responded to the new security challenges on Capitol Hill, including the attacks on September 11 and the anthrax attacks, quickly and courageously. They have continued their fine tradition of serving the Capitol Hill community. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have the opportunity to thank our Capitol Police for the tremendous job that they do every day, and especially since September 11. They truly are heroes, and we salute them today.