Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise first to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), our ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and also the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), for their commitment and real diligence in working to develop H.R. 2069, legislation that will comprehensively fight the global AIDS, TB and malaria pandemics. This bipartisan legislation that we are considering today is important because it authorizes the desperately needed resources to address the multifaceted and multigenerational challenges presented by the global AIDS, TB and malaria pandemics. It has been over 20 years since the first AIDS diagnosis. Since then, HIV and AIDS has infected over 56 million people worldwide and has claimed over 25 million lives, including 4 million children. The events of September 11 have turned the world's attention appropriately on combatting international terrorism. However, we cannot forget the global will scourge of HIV and AIDS. It is a national security threat of staggering proportions. AIDS, like many diseases, knows no borders and discriminates against no one. Each day, AIDS, TB and malaria claim over 17,000 lives. So, just as we fight terrorism, we must also fight these diseases. According to UN, AIDS left unchecked, it is estimated that over 100 million people will be infected worldwide by 2007. AIDS is decimating the continent of Africa and leaving millions of orphans in its wake. Today, the number of orphans in Africa is the equivalent of the total population of children in America's public schools. Left unchecked, Africa will be home to more than 40 million orphans by 2010; and unfortunately, Africa is only the epicenter. We must not sacrifice this generation of children on the alter of indifference. The AIDS pandemic has cut life expectancy by 25 years in some countries. In Botswana, the population growth due to AIDS is negative. This means that there are more people dying from AIDS than there are being born. The AIDS, TB, and malaria pandemics constitute a crisis of biblical proportions in Africa and puts the very survival of the continent at stake. These pandemics are not only a humanitarian crisis, but they are potentially an economic, political, and social catastrophe. Therefore, it is important that we continue to beat the drum to raise awareness. Our efforts at home must reach far beyond our shores. When the House Committee on International Relations marked this bill up earlier this year, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) worked on this bill day and night to increase bilateral funding for AIDS, TB, and malaria and also to increase the U.S. contribution to our multilateral AIDS program. The program, under this bill's $750 million, includes a contribution to the Global AIDS Trust Fund, which the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and I cosponsored last year. This was actually signed into law as the Global AIDS and TB Relief Act of 2000, which the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) earlier referred to. So today, the House is sending a strong message that America can and must do more. Also, I want to state for the record that all HIV-infected persons have a basic right to vital medicines for prevention and treatment of AIDS and also must have access to drugs for treatment of opportunistic infections and to anti-retroviral agents. We have the knowledge and we have the technology to prevent the spread of AIDS. We have the necessary drugs that can substantially reduce the rate of mother-to-child transmission and also prolong the lives of people who are infected. In addition to all of the barriers we face addressing this global crisis, basic health care infrastructure remains an issue. This bill addresses that also. So I just once again want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the committee; the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member; the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach); and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) for their commitment, and also for our staffs' work. I want to thank the staff for diligently working on this. Our dedication and their dedication to the future of the human family will surely have a ripple effect.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to H.R. 3005, the Thomas Fast Track bill. I strongly support free trade, but it must be fair and not at the expense of American jobs, workers' rights, the environment, or our Constitution. We cannot sacrifice jobs in the pursuit of imaginary profits, especially now with our economy stumbling. We are losing jobs every day, while our trade deficits get larger and larger. And those deficits have expanded since NAFTA was passed. The Economic Policy Institute reports that Americans have lost 3 million actual and potential jobs since NAFTA. California alone has suffered over 300,000 jobs in trade-related losses. We must stem this tide and signing over Congress' trade authority is not the way to do that. Nor should we sacrifice our environment or the public health. Under the terms of Chapter 11 of NAFTA, California is currently being sued by a Canadian corporation because our state's efforts to phase out MTBE from our gasoline and eliminate that potential carcinogen from our water supply have cut into their profits. Fast track would open up our environmental laws to foreign lawsuits. It would undermine efforts to let consumers know if they are eating genetically modified foods. It would threaten international environmental protections. Finally, fast track undercuts the authority of this very Congress to protect our constituents. The Constitution specifically grants Congress ``the power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations.'' We should not vote to give that power away. I urge you to oppose this bill. We don't have to jump on to a fast track that will lead to a train wreck.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, it was a tax cut bill for the country club set.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, so infrastructure development should be part of any economic stimulus plan that this Congress moves forward to the President's desk. We also need to extend the $300 per person rebate which the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) has worked very hard on, because over 50 percent of our low-income and minority families were left out of that benefit earlier this year, and that is not fair. That is wrong, and we should correct it since we have the opportunity to correct it now.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for engaging us in this dialogue tonight. Because we have to remind the public and the world that, as we move to enhance our national security and our public safety, we must also respond to economic security. We must be sure that we deal with this by passing a strong and fair economic stimulus bill that provides relief where it is truly needed. That is to our workers who have lost their jobs and also their health care. In losing their jobs, they lost their health care. This is really the right way to pass a plan to stimulate the economy. There is always a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way to pass a bogus stimulus plan is to allow special interests, which we are allowing in this Congress, to use this moment to push and to solidify their corporate welfare agenda. The gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) referred to tomorrow's vote on Fast Track. That is just another slap in the face to American workers. We have got to put a stop to this. We are here tonight trying to frame the arguments so people understand that there are many in this Congress that understand that an economic stimulus plan should target those in need. Creating jobs and economic development activities stimulate the economy. Providing for fair employment and health benefits to those who have lost their jobs, that creates economic stability, and that is the right thing to do. I am really happy that the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney) and all of the Members here on the floor tonight are talking about how minorities are especially affected by this recession and need an economic stimulus plan. The percentage of African Americans and Latinos who are unemployed rose more than 2 percent between October, 2001, going back to October, 2000. Minority women were affected the most. African Americans and Latinos are more likely to lose their jobs than other workers. Additionally, many minority workers are not eligible for unemployment insurance because they work part-time or short-term jobs. That knocks them out of eligibility for unemployment insurance. Because minority workers, unfortunately, earn less than their white counterparts, they receive a smaller unemployment benefit. Additionally, low-paid jobs mean that workers have less of a chance for workers being eligible for health benefits from their employers while they are working and, of course, when they are laid off. We need to pass a strong economic stimulus plan, one which extends the period of time for workers to be eligible for unemployment insurance and also extends the eligibility. We also need a bill that provides for comprehensive health benefits for workers who have lost their jobs. We need a plan to improve our infrastructure which not only creates jobs but also renovates our crumbling schools and hospitals.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, if the gentlewoman would yield, the gentlewoman is right. This is through no fault of their own. They lost their jobs through either recessionary measures or as a result of the tragedy of September 11. However they lost their job, they lost their job, and they deserve unemployment benefits, and they deserve their health care. Families who are laid off, they cannot keep waiting for a bill to be passed, hoping that they can extend their rent that is due or hoping that they might pay their mortgage sooner or later or hoping that their children's tuition will hang tough until they can figure out how to pay for their kids to stay in school. They cannot keep waiting for their grocery bills to be paid as we here in Congress promise that we are going to do something. I think during this holiday season we must remember those who really do need us the most. Tax cuts will not provide relief for these families and for these workers. We need to provide a safety net immediately for families who desperately need our attention. Hopefully, we will continue to beat the drum, because this is such an important issue. It is so important for us in December now to really move this bill forward and move it in a way that benefits those that need it the most. I thank the gentlewoman for this Special Order tonight.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I am very disappointed in the process and also the content of this bill. Many important amendments, including those on tort reform and my consumer amendment on data disclosure, were not even allowed to be offered. At a time when thousands of men and women are losing their jobs and their health insurance, it is really a shame that we are again putting corporate interests before the interests of our workers. Unemployment and health insurance benefits for those people who have lost their jobs should be our first priority. On the content of this bill, the egregious tort reform provisions are reason enough to oppose it. Companies that do not take appropriate safety steps or do not act responsibly in the face of credible threats should not receive protection for their actions. If the owner of a building locks the emergency exit doors and a terrorist attack occurs there, that building owner must be held responsible for their negligent actions. This is just common sense. Under the Republican bill, they could not be held responsible. Under the LaFalce substitute they would. In terms of the process of this bill, I have tried to offer an amendment to require insurers to provide the same data, the same data, mind you, that banks currently provide on the race, ethnicity, gender and location of their policyholders to ensure that they are not discriminating against minority, women or low-income individuals. However, this very modest amendment was not even allowed by the Committee on Rules. If we are to give billions of dollars to the insurance industry, we should at least have basic data to know if they are using those Federal dollars to engage in discriminatory practices. This is only fair. It is time that this Congress really gets its priorities straight and supports the working men and women in our Nation. The tragic events of September 11 should not be used as an opportunity for corporate tax cuts and bailouts. Let us put first things first and make sure that our enhanced national security ensures economic security for those who so desperately need our assistance.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, communities across the globe will acknowledge World AIDS Day. The global AIDS pandemic is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our times. Three years ago in my district, we declared a state of emergency on HIV and AIDS in the African American community. Since then the number of new infections has begun to slowly decrease, but millions of dollars are needed in our urban and rural communities to tackle this pandemic. AIDS, like many diseases, knows no borders; nor does it discriminate. HIV has infected over 57 million people worldwide. AIDS, TB, and malaria claim over 17,000 lives each day. We know how to prevent the spread of HIV. We know how to treat AIDS patients, and we know we must continue our work in vaccine development. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and global AIDS experts estimate that it will take $7 billion to $10 billion annually to launch an effective response. The United States should contribute at least $1 billion to this fund as the wealthiest and most powerful country on Earth. The human family is at stake. We can and we must do more.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding to me and for his leadership in organizing this tribute tonight to honor the lives of the men and women who lost their lives in the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11. The world witnessed the bravery and humanity of hundreds of men and women, emergency services professionals, who rushed into the World Trade Center following the attacks and making the ultimate sacrifice to rescue individuals that were in grave danger. There is really nothing we could do to truly give these courageous men and women the honor and recognition they deserve. Wanda Anita Green is but one of the many heroes who gave their lives to save the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, when United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked on September 11. Wanda's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, my constituents, moved to Oakland from Oceanside, California within a year of Wanda's birth on August 22, 1952. Wanda, her identical twin sister Sandra, and a brother, Tommy, were raised in west and north Oakland, California. Wanda's sister, Sandra Jamerson, now lives in Antioch, California, and Wanda's parents and brother, Tommy Smith, still live in Oakland, California. Wanda was loved and will be missed by her daughter, Jennifer Green, and her son, Joe Green of Linden, New Jersey, and by many other family and friends. Wanda's family deeply appreciates the expressions of love from the people of our Nation and the comforting words and support from President Bush, as he personally received the families at the White House very recently. For 28 years, Wanda was living her childhood dream of earning her wings and working as a senior flight attendant for United Airlines. The family has received communications from passengers that flew with Wanda earlier this year, and they remember her as watching after them because she cared, not because it was her job. Wanda loved to travel. She enjoyed meeting new people, and she had a great affection for exploring different cultures. In celebration of Wanda's life, the family has established the Wanda Anita Green Foundation to assist urban youth in reaching their dreams by providing scholarships to support their education and career goals. Wanda loved children and was very active in the lives of her own children. One of Wanda's most memorable volunteer jobs was when she served as president of her local PTA. September 11 was a tragic day in the history of our Nation and of the world. Wanda, members of the crew, and passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 gave their lives to save others. For that, they are true American heroes and must be honored as such. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Wanda's family, her friends and colleagues, I honor the courage, the spirit, and the legacy of this great American hero, Wanda Anita Green, and all of those whose lives were suddenly and tragically lost during the unspeakable terrorist attacks of September 11.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support today of this amendment to address our most urgent security needs by increasing funding for counterterrorism programs, to protect Americans from nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. They are the threats that we face today, this very minute; and we have many ideas on how to address them. The Bipartisan Russia Task Force, chaired by Howard Baker and Lloyd Cutler, spelled out these dangers in January and they spelled out the recommendations. They concluded that current budget levels for our nonproliferation programs create the potential for catastrophic consequences, and we have already seen what a handful of anthrax-laden letters can do. Think about the danger posed by tons of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. We now have the opportunity to forge a new relationship with Russia and other former Soviet Union States as we work together to fight terrorism. But that opportunity requires a real investment in joint security efforts to safeguard these weapons and the scientists who might be tempted to sell their knowledge to the highest bidder. Nunn- Lugar is a crucial bipartisan program that should be expanded and coordinated into a comprehensive strategic plan to eliminate these stockpiles of destruction. These dangers are imminent. For all of these reasons, I support increasing funding for antiterrorism programs in the Kucinich amendment. This amendment redirects a fraction of the billions allocated to ballistic missile defense in order to address dangers that are clear and immediate with solutions that are also clear and immediate. This amendment seeks to strengthen our defenses at home by transferring $82 million to produce anthrax and smallpox vaccines, to develop next-generation vaccines, and to work on methods to counter other biological weapons. The threat of bioterrorism is a reality, and we are not ready for it. We lack the vaccines, the health infrastructure, and the defenses to protect American men, women and children. This amendment will also direct money to Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams. We must be able to react to crises as they occur. Nearly half of our States do not have civil support teams to deal with these dangers, so as we respond to the atrocities of September 11, we must reconstruct the architecture of our national security. We must invest in securing and dismantling Cold War-era weapons of mass destruction before they are turned against us in this new century by our new enemies, and we must invest in defenses here at home against biological terrorism. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to make this investment, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3009. Yes, we want to promote trade, but we must also protect jobs. I want to also express my deep disappointment for the Rules Committee not allowing Representatives Miller and Evans from offering their important amendment to protect trade unionists in Colombia. I agree with my colleagues that Colombia should not be able to benefit from the trade provisions in this bill until that nation's authorities begin to investigate the deaths of at least 90% of the trade union deaths this year. Violence against trade unionists in Colombia is the highest in the world and is growing each year. In the last 10 years, more than 1200 trade unionists have been murdered in Colombia. The ILO and UN High Commission on Human Rights have also condemned these attacks. I think the U.S. and this Congress should do what we can to stop this violence. The Miller-Evans amendment would have been a strong step forward; however, it was not allowed to be offered. Thus, I am not able to support this bill and urge my colleagues to oppose it as well.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, S. 1447. The events of September 11 have made it critical that Congress pass legislation that will ensure safe travel in our skies. By putting well-trained, professional federal agents, including federal marshals, in charge of airport and airplane security, and by screening all baggage and cargo, we will make our skies safer, boost confidence in the airlines, and help our economy, the American people, and the country. Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues in urging the conferees to ensure that legal permanent residents who have lived in the U.S. for 5 years, would still have their jobs protected. I am disappointed that this provision was not included and will continue to work to ensure that those legal residents who lose their jobs will receive the assistance they need. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Aviation and Transportation Security Act.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the United States to lift its block on approved loans by the Inter-American Development Bank to Haiti. Haiti is now in the midst of a political impasse that began months after the May, 2000 elections, and has become a national crisis. The United States has since blocked foreign assistance, as well as international financial institutions' funding for Haiti. Meanwhile, a severe humanitarian disaster looms large over the population of 8 million people, including a devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic, extreme poverty, and high infant mortality rates. We must address this injustice. The people of Haiti need our support. Our country can help alleviate human suffering in this country in the Western Hemisphere. We must release these approved loans. They are not grants, mind you, but they are loans to Haiti.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, California. In 1941, the Filbert Street Boys Club merged with the East Oakland Boys Club to become the Oakland Boys Clubs. The purpose of this club was to create a fun environment while at the same time provide educational programs and services specifically tailored to the needs of young men. For many years the Oakland Boys Clubs were solely focused on providing for the well-being of boys. However, in 1989 the Board of Directors agreed that their organization should be a club that is inclusive rather than exclusive. Therefore, they extended their membership to young women. They wanted the Oakland Boys Clubs to become the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland which would welcome young people of all backgrounds. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland have a membership of 2,400 people who are taking full advantage of the programs and services this organization has to provide. The Boys & Girls Clubs offer career development, character and leadership development, health and life skills, arts, sports, fitness and recreation opportunities. They empower young men and women to live a happier, healthier and fuller lives. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland strives to instill and enhance a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, influence and responsibility in each child. This organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of our youth. I ask Congress to join me and the constituents of the 9th Congressional District in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and in wishing them many more years of success and positive influence on our young leaders of tomorrow!

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Oakland, California. During World War I, many Europeans, including Serbians, faced the unspeakable horrors of war. Some were fortunate to escape a world of intolerance and hatred. It isn't surprising that many Serbians came to the United States, a symbol of hope and freedom, in search of a better life and future for themselves and their children. New to the San Francisco Bay Area, Serbian men and women valued a strong sense of community and continued and maintain the Orthodox faith, Serbian language and culture. They affiliated themselves with the central office in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and their constant communication enabled them to maintain a connection to their homeland. The leaders of Oakland's Serbian community understood the need to retain cultural traditions and Serbia's history as a nation, particularly since many young Serbian children were immersed in popular American culture. In an effort to preserve and pass on the rich Serbian culture and history to future generations, a local school was established for Serbians. This school was named the Serbian Society of Education in Oakland. On February 29, 1924, the Society sought to purchase a piece of church property in order to realize their mission to retain and further cultivate their orthodoxy. This church was named the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church. For over seventy-five years, St. George has been the home for Serbian families, immigrants and refugees. The Church and its members also formed the Saint George Athletic Club, Women's Auxiliary and St. George's Church Choir. These groups are regarded for their contributions to social campaigns and political activism. The St. George Serbian Orthodox Church encourages and nurtures love and peace among its members and instills a strong sense of family in our community. Today I stand with Oakland's Serbian community as we celebrate 75 years of service to the community by St. George Serbian Orthodox Church. We honor their rich history and strong faith and trust in God. May St. George continue to kindly lead its members in the spirit of peace, love and equality.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to voice my support for the Democratic substitute offered by Mr. Oberstar and Mr. Ganske. The events of September 11th have made it critical that this Congress pass legislation that will meet our needs in ensuring safe travel in our skies. This Democratic bill will pull existing security systems up by their roots and improve them dramatically by putting well-trained, professional federal law enforcement agents in charge of airport and airplane security. People want this and they deserve this. In my district, I have seen first-hand what enhanced security measures can do and have heard about the plans to further strengthen security measures. We must provide the appropriate resources to strengthen and implement expanded aviation security measures, particularly since they must be sustained over a long period of time-- this is vital. All baggage and cargo must be screened. This is a basic security measure that should be standard--it could save lives. Millions of people, customers and workers, have come to rely on airline travel, air cargo, aircraft recreation and tourism, and we have to do all we can to ensure their safety. As we enhance security in our airports and on aircraft, we cannot forget the employees who face layoffs. A large number of these workers are minorities. They must be given employment priority. They should be afforded the first opportunities to be retrained under these new regulations and they should be provided the first opportunity to enter into our civil society workforce. As we move to federalize our aviation security, we must ensure that the civil liberties of federal employees and airline passengers will not erode--this includes federal employee protections. I must also express my concern about the five-year citizenship requirement in this legislation that is not mandated by any other federal agencies. There are many legal residents in this country who vote and pay taxes. If they clear all back ground checks, they must not be discriminated against for these positions. We cannot set a double standard which will have negative ramifications for many aviation security workers. I am not convinced that this mandate will guarantee the trust worthiness or skill of the screener workforce. Again, I look forward to working with my colleagues to comprehensively assess and remedy this matter as this policy is implemented. We must work together to make our skies safe, boost confidence in the airlines, and help our economy, the American people, and the country. The Democratic bill will do this--I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for the Democratic substitute.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of and to offer tribute to Wanda Anita Green, one of the many heroes on board United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked on September 11, 2001. Wanda's parents, Francis and Aserene Smith, my constituents, moved to Oakland from Oceanside, California within the year of her birth on August 22, 1952. Wanda, her identical twin sister Sandra, and brother Tommy were raised in West and North Oakland California. Wanda's sister Sandra Jamerson now lives in Antioch, California and Wanda's parents and brother Tommy Smith still live in Oakland, California. Wanda was loved and will be deeply missed by her daughter Jennifer R. Green, (age 21 years) and son Joe B. Green 11, (age 18 years) of Linden, New Jersey, and many other family and ftiends. Wanda's family deeply appreciates the expressions of love from the people of our nation and the comforting words of support from President George W. Bush as he personally received the family at the White House recently. For 28 years, Wanda was living her childhood dream of earning her wings and working as a Senior Flight Attendant for United Airlines. The family has received communications from passengers that flew with Wanda earlier this year and they remember her as watching after them because ``she cared, not because it was her job.'' Wanda loved to travel, she enjoyed meeting new people, and she had a great affection for exploring different cultures. In celebration of Wanda's life, the family has formed the Wanda Anita Green Foundation in her honor that will assist urban youth in reaching their dreams by providing scholarships to support their education and career goals. Wanda loved children and was very active in her own children's lives. One of Wanda's most memorable volunteer jobs was when she served as President of her local PTA. September 11, 2001 was a tragic day in the history of the world. Wanda, members of the crew, and passengers aboard United Airline Flight 93 gave their lives to save others and for that they are true American heros and must be honored as such. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before Congress on behalf of her family, friends and colleagues to honor the courage, spirit and legacy of this American Hero, Wanda Anita Green.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican economic stimulus plan and in favor of the Democratic substitute, which will truly help those workers affected by this recession. September 11th changed the world. As we respond to the economic uncertainty, there is no way that we should allow special interests to use this moment to push and solidify their corporate welfare agenda. Paying off special interest contributors does not stimulate the economy and does not ensure the safety of our country. An economic stimulus plan should target those who need it the most. Creating jobs, creating economic development activities stimulates the economy. Providing fair unemployment and health care benefits to those who have lost their jobs creates economic stability and is the right thing to do. The wrong thing to do is to provide $70 billion in corporate tax cuts and only $2 billion in benefits to workers who have lost their jobs and their health care, which is what the GOP economic stimulus package does. In fact, a full two-thirds of the GOP economic stimulus bill goes to profitable businesses and not to workers affected by the recession. Let me give just a few examples of the huge corporate tax breaks in this bill. The repeal of the alternative minimum tax for businesses, which was passed in 1986 to ensure that companies could not get out of paying income taxes by using deductions, is not only repealed in the GOP economic stimulus bill, but it is retroactive, allowing businesses to deduct this tax all the way back to 1986! This ridiculous repeal would cost over $25 billion, with huge amounts of this benefit going to a select few corporations. For example, IBM would get over $1 billion in tax breaks just from this provision. General Motors and General Electric would each get hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks. At the same time, the GOP barely spends any money at all on unemployment assistance. The amount that IBM would receive through the AMT tax break is the same amount that the GOP would spend on unemployment assistance for laid-off workers. So one corporation benefits the same as all the millions of workers who have lost their jobs? This makes no sense. So today, I join with my colleagues to oppose this irresponsible tax cut, the so-called ``economic stimulus'' bill, and to support a real, responsible economic stimulus plan offered by the Democrats.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lend my voice to those in Congress, this country, and throughout the world who are concerned about the oppressed women living in Afghanistan under the cruel Taliban regime. Never have the women in that country needed the support of others in the international community more than now. When the Taliban, the ruling party in Afghanistan, took control in 1996, women were completely stripped of all their fundamental human rights and freedoms. Prior to 1996, women were allowed to work, have careers, and go to school. Now, women in Afghanistan are not allowed to engage in any of these activities. They are not allowed to leave their homes unless accompanied by a close male relative, or talk to, or walk with a man to whom they are not related. The Taliban believes that women appearing in public in any capacity are instruments of moral corruption and agents of sexual anarchy. To avoid this, women must be kept covered, out of sight and off the streets. They must wear the burqa, the clothing garment that covers them from head-to-toe, leaving only a mesh square over their eyes to permit minimal vision. Schools in Afghanistan have also been drastically impacted by the Taliban regime. Within three months of the capture of Kabul, the Taliban closed 63 schools in the city affecting about 100,000 girls, 150,000 boys and 11,000 teachers, of whom 75 percent were women. The Taliban shut down Kabul University sending home some 10,000 students, of which 4,000 were women. Many children in Afghanistan are growing up without any education, since women are not allowed to teach young children because it qualifies as work. An entire generation of Afghan children are growing up uneducated. Women in Afghanistan are beaten and killed when they disobey the Taliban's wishes and rules. Women are oftentimes the victims of deliberate and arbitrary killings and disappearances. The Taliban turns a blind eye to the abduction of women, forces them into brutal marriages, and condones rapes and sexual assaults of young girls and women. Worse, women who are raped can be put to death for the crime of being a victim of rape. Women are publicly harassed, intimidated and beaten for carrying out activities common in our country, such as wearing make-up, which is deemed to be violating the strict rules of the Taliban. Women are deprived of basic human rights and must live in constant fear. The women in Afghanistan do not have a voice in their country, their community, or their home. We, as women in free societies throughout the world, must stand up for women in Afghanistan as their voice and as their sisters. If we do not want to see repression and terrorism continue, we must directly aid Afghan women's groups and call on the future Afghanistan government to involve women in their quest for freedom. We must condemn these acts of violence and human rights abuses and help our sisters in Afghanistan. I join my colleagues in condemning the Taliban and its outrageous treatment of women in Afghanistan.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding me this time, and I also want to thank our chairman and ranking member for bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor in such an expedited fashion. This important legislation will help crack down on terrorists using our financial services and having access to funds through money laundering. While I am strongly supportive of this bill, I had intended to offer a very simple amendment that I hope can be included in conference which would require the Departments of Justice and Treasury to report to Congress on how the terrorists in the September 11 attacks acquired and used credit and debt cards. We still do not know how the terrorists accessed the credit cards they used to rent cars, purchase airline tickets, and take other actions that facilitated the terrorist attacks. Did they steal other people's identity? Did financial institutions have the tools that they needed to do thorough checks before giving out these cards? We just do not know. I would like to mention a quote from today's New York Post with reference to this issue. According to the New York Post, in an article today, and I quote, ``The most recent charge on one of the cards came 2 weeks ago, a full 3 weeks after the terrorist strike, a law enforcement official told the Post.'' We must take every step possible to shut down access to capital to the terrorists. Finding out how they got credit and debt cards is one of the important steps in this process. So I would like to thank my colleagues, our ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), and our chairman for this bill; and I ask them and suggest to them to include this provision in the conference committee.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2454, to dedicate a U.S. Postal Service facility in Los Angeles after the late Congressman Julian Dixon. Representative Dixon proudly represented west Los Angeles as a Member of Congress from 1979 until his untimely passing in 2000. He was the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, where he tirelessly worked to expand and uphold civil rights. Representative Dixon worked hard to represent his district and beyond. He was a champion and leading supporter of the Los Angeles commuter rail system. He was known for his efforts to boost the economic standards of his district and maintain the nation's commitment to uphold basic human rights. Representative Julian Dixon was regarded as a leader, friend, and mentor to many of us. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to designate the post office in honor of Representative Julian Dixon and his heroic work throughout his lifetime.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Istook Amendment. This Amendment will increase federal spending for abstinence education only. It is imperative that we continue to support not only abstinence, but comprehensive sex education as well. 82% of American parents support a comprehensive approach to sex education being taught in our schools, including birth control, safer sex and abstinence. We should not just spend taxpayer dollars on abstinence only programs while censoring information and access to information about contraception, which prevents unwanted pregnancies, decreases abortions and prevents sexually transmitted diseases, including the deadly HIV/ AIDS virus. According to Advocates for Youth, 93% of Americans support teaching comprehensive sex education in high schools, while 84% of Americans support sex education being taught in middle/junior high schools. Also, seven out of ten Americans believe teaching abstinence only prohibits education on the use of condoms, preventing HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. In the United States more than 4 million teens acquire a sexually transmitted disease each year. The Centers for Disease Control reported that almost 3000 adolescents between the ages of 13-19 had been diagnosed with AIDS between 1995 and 1997. We must act responsibly and not fail our children, parents, educators, and medical professions who oppose this amendment. Research has also shown that 75 percent of the decrease in teen pregnancy between 1988 and 1995 was due to improved contraceptive use, while 25 percent was due to increased abstinence. Soon, I will be introducing the ``Family Life Education Act of 2001,'' which would reform the abstinence only provision in the 1996 Welfare Reform Act to allow states to receive money for both abstinence and comprehensive sexual education, including contraception. Currently, states are only allowed to receive this money if they teach abstinence only. Other supporters of teaching comprehensive sex education in schools include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society of Adolescent Medicine. I strongly urge my colleagues to join with me in voting no on the Istook Amendment. We must support our young people by providing them with the education necessary to prevent unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. We must bring terrorists to justice and make our country safe, but we must not sacrifice our Constitution in a mad rush to rewrite our laws in the middle of the night. This is one of the most important bills we will address this year, but we have not had a chance to even read the bill. The Committee on the Judiciary unanimously passed an antiterrorism bill that has all but disappeared. This is not the way to make laws. This bill expands the scope of surveillance powers far beyond the scrutiny of suspected terrorists. We hear that intelligence sharing will not be limited to those suspects. We cannot once again go down this path. African Americans have very clear memories of how civil liberties have been warped before through illegal surveillance and the COINTEL program. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who preached peace, was wiretapped by the FBI. We must move carefully. We must avoid the pitfalls of racial profiling. Arab Americans and Muslims must not become government targets because of their race or faith. We cannot let terrorists rewrite our Constitution. We must think about the consequences of our actions. I urge this body to oppose the rule and oppose the bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the H.R. 3061. I believe this bill represents a good bipartisan effort which focuses on priorities many good programs that will benefit our nations and its citizen. This bill also contains provisions which will be crucial in our efforts to rebuild the nation's confidence during the difficult days since the events of September 11, 2001. I want to also express my appreciation to the chairman and the ranking Appropriations Committee and the Chairman and Ranking Member of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, who had the responsibility of crafting this legislation and included provisions for the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. These provisions will expand funding for our global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria efforts on the African continent, and in developing countries throughout the world. As many of you know, more than two years ago, I began to work with my colleagues to build a bipartisan and bicameral coalition to raise the level of attention and expand the United States response to the global AIDS crisis. Although we can and must do more to fight this killer disease, the provisions funded in this bill provide proof that with leadership and a strong will to bring relief to those who need it most, we can and will work together toward eradicating the global scourge of AIDS from the face of the earth. We all know that HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria continue to ravage Africa and developing countries throughout the world. Each day, over 17,000 people die each day from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria worldwide! Our nation is leading the global fight against these infectious diseases. However, we can and must do more. We have only reached the tip of the iceberg in the global AIDS crisis and it is compounded by TB and malaria mortality rates. It is clear that our fight must continue. Without an expanded and coordinated response, the CDC, international AIDS experts and health experts indicate that new HIV infections, alone, will rise to 100 million by the year 2007. Already over 50 million people have been infected worldwide--over 70% of those infections are in sub-Saharan Africa. Once the global AIDS fund is operational, it will support a wide range of interventions, from education and prevention to the procurement of HIV/AIDS/TB related drugs and commodities, including antiretroviral agents in situations where their use can be effectively managed, and anti-malaria interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets. The goal is to have the global fund in operation with the capacity to manage resources and procure essential drugs and commodities by early 2002. To maximize the global fund's impact, the funds should be used for results-based programs that specifically increase the number of people covered by the direct provision of drugs, other commodities and services to beneficiaries in countries severely affected by these diseases. The fact that techniques which prevent the spread of HIV infection exist, and that drugs exist that can substantially reduce the rate of mother-to-child transmission and prolong the lives of people who are infected, makes it incumbent on us to immediately utilize whatever budgetary mechanisms are available. The funding provided in this bill moves us closer to that goal. It is for these reasons that I support this legislation and urge my colleague to also support it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably detained due to a flight delay for tonight's votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on both H. Con. Res. 244, authorizing the printing of the Our American Flag publication, and H. Res. 250, urging the Secretary of Energy to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.