Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose these articles of impeachment and this very flawed and undemocratic process. This process and this action are the real crimes against the American people and our democracy. This march to impeachment is an attempt to undo and overthrow a duly elected President and ignores the will of the people. Denying a vote on censure creates the appearance of a one-party autocracy which we condemn abroad and which history has proven can lead to authoritarian rule. This Republican Party coup underscores that their only goal is to turn back the clock on an agenda that puts people first; an agenda that will want to cancel policies that value and support basic human rights, such as a woman's right to choose, a good public education instead of vouchers; that insists on a living wage for working men and women; that protects our environment; that supports the Patient's Bill of Rights and that preserves Social Security. The Republican process is cynical and it is dangerous. It will be recorded that they stood on the wrong side of history. We must restore the public trust and establish a Congress which communicates respect for the people of the United States, the Constitution and democracy. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose these articles of impeachment. I join my Democratic colleagues in speaking out against this flawed, undemocratic process. This process and this action are the real crimes against the American people and our democracy. This Republican Congress is marching this country into an impeachment of President Clinton in an attempt to undo and overthrow a duly elected President. This ignores the will of the people. We condemn single party rule abroad. But this Republican Congress refuses to allow the minority party to vote on censure. But squelching the minority's requests for debate, for fairness, and for reasonable alternatives, this Republican Congress demonstrates its contempt for the Presidency, for the democratic process, and for the will of the people of this nation. It abridges the Constitution by restricting and closing off legislative options, and creates the appearances of a one-party autocracy, which history has proven can lead to authoritarian rule. This Republican party coup underscore that their only goal is to turn back an agenda that puts people first. To cancel a program that values basis human rights. That values a woman's right to choose, and that supports good public education instead of vouchers. Their goal is to cancel an agenda that insists that working women and men have a right to a living wage. An agenda that protects our environment. An agenda that fights for a Patient's Bill of Rights and preserves Social Security. Today's vote is one of the most important votes in American history. The Republican's process is cynical and dangerous. It will be recorded that the Republicans have stood on the wrong side of history. As Americans who value an open and just society, we must reject this madness and say yes to openness. Say yes to fairness. We must restore public trust and establish a Congress which communicates respect for the people of the United States, the Constitution, and democracy. A vote on a censure motion will allow the opinion and the voice of millions of Americans to be heard.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to note a concert commemorating Eleanor Roosevelt's leadership in promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on December 10, 1998. The tribute to Mrs. Roosevelt will feature the world premiere of a cello concerto commissioned especially for the event from the renowned composer Chen Yi and will be performed by the Women's Philharmonic Orchestra in San Francisco at the Herbst Theatre with cello soloist, Paul Tobias. It will be cosponsored by the New Heritage Music Foundation and Amnesty International. Mr. Harry Offenhartz, a good friend of mine, served as President of the New Heritage Music Foundation until his death last July at the age of 93. Mr. Offenhartz worked in the Roosevelt Administration and with Eleanor Roosevelt, and was a tireless advocate for human rights and the cause of the disadvantaged. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to share the upcoming concert with this body, and to thank and honor those who are working to commemorate Mrs. Roosevelt and the Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as we near the final days of the legislative session, I rise to express my real disappointment with the lack of attention that this Republican Congress has given to public education. Democrats have, month after month, put forth education initiatives to improve our public schools and to provide opportunities for all of our students. We offered an amendment to reduce class size in primary schools to 18 children per class. It was opposed by Republicans. On two occasions we put forth legislation to allow local school authorities to build new schools and to modernize classrooms. We were not talking about Federal authorities, but we were talking about local school authorities to be able to build and modernize these classrooms. These initiatives were rejected by the Republicans. These are only two examples of the long list of important education initiatives that Republicans have defeated this year. Even worse, they continue to propose counterproductive policies, such as school vouchers and tax incentives for private and religious schools. These efforts undermine public education. Now, we know that a strong educational system provides students with the necessary background, skills and training to survive and to be productive members of this society and the world community. We have also learned that education is the best form of crime prevention. A California-based think tank recently released a study showing that crime prevention efforts are more cost effective than building prisons. Of all crime prevention methods, education is the most cost effective method of crime prevention. Yet, rather than invest in education, Republicans would have us funnel more money into prisons. We see money flowing into sources such as constructing new prisons, as if we need to prepare for the inevitable incarceration of our children. There are now plans on the drawing board to construct prisons within the next 10 to 12 years counting on children who are now 10 years old to fill them. This is wrong. In fact, the lack of investment in education actually contributes to the enormous incarceration rate. Nineteen percent of adult inmates are completely illiterate and 40 percent are functionally illiterate. Nationwide, over 70 percent of all people entering state correctional facilities have not completed high school. In our juvenile justice system, youth at a median age of 15 read on average at the same level as most nine-year-olds. So it is imperative that we begin to refocus on education and building schools, instead of building prisons. With children attending classes in trailers, being subjected to unheated and sometimes unsafe buildings, or packed together 35 in a classroom, it is no wonder that too many students are not learning and receiving the healthy start they need to succeed in the competitive fast-paced working world. Education is the key to our investment in the future. We should be constructing new classrooms, building after school facilities and strengthening important programs like preschool and after school programs, not concentrating on more centers for incarceration. By attending to students' academic, physical and emotional needs, we can prevent the experiences of neglect and abandonment that can lead to misbehavior and even criminal activity. Investing in education makes sense. It makes sense for our national budget, it makes sense for the safety of our communities and it makes sense for the well-being of our children. It is my hope that in the final hours of negotiation and debate, that this Congress can pull together and give the remaining public education initiatives the priority they deserve. We owe at least this much to our students.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call to the attention of the Honorable Members of the House, and the American people, the recently ratified Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This is one of the five basic human rights treaties the United States has ratified. I am following the lead of Congressman Ronald V. Dellums, who read into the Record important sections of the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is important that its provisions become part of our thinking and that we carry out our treaty commitments as we build enforcement of human rights law throughout this country at the federal, state and local levels. Our work against torture and other illegal practices in this country will strengthen work against torture in other countries. This Convention Against Torture entered into force for the United States on October 21st, 1994 with no fanfare or coverage by the media. By ratifying this Convention, the United States made it part of the supreme law of the land under the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, paragraph 2. And the U.S. Government committed itself to take three steps: 1. To publicize the text throughout the nation, including notifying the states to publicize the text at the state and local levels; 2. To prepare a report on ``the measures they have taken to give effect to their undertakings'' under the treaty within one year after its entry into force, and every four years thereafter; 3. To meet with the UN Committee Against Torture after filing each report in order to work toward compliance with all provisions of the Convention in all federal agencies and at the state and local levels. The treaty describes at length what the United States and all signatory nations must do to stop torture. Article 16 commits each nation to take the same steps to stop cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In order to stop both kinds of practices, the United States made a commitment in Article 10 to ``ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture [and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment] are fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, . . .'', as I will read in full later. I am happy to report to the House, and to the American people, that experience with UN human rights treaties is that the reporting process works. Studies show that 32 out of 36 countries have improved their human rights laws after going through the reporting process more than once. The method of enforcement is familiar to many of us: it is the mobilization of shame. The Committee hears from a government, dialogues with officials of that government, makes its report, which it discusses with that government, and then can report its findings to the UN General Assembly. However, the United States has not yet filed its first report, due Oct. 21, 1995. The second U.S. report will be due Oct. 21, 1999. Each report by the UN Committee Against Torture must mention that the U.S. has not met its treaty obligations to date. I now offer several pages of excerpts from the Convention. All deletions are marked with. . . . The full treaty is available in International Legal Materials, Volume 23, page 1027 and Volume 24 at p. 535 (1985). Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 entry into force 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1) entry into force for the United States 21 October 1994 (President signed 18 April 1988; see 136 Cong. Rec. S17491-2, October 1, 1990. The States Parties to this Convention, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of he human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person, Considering the obligation of States under the Charter, in particular Article 55, to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, Having regard to article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, . . . Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world, Have agreed as follows:

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I call your attention to the work of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA), Oakland Unit No. 7 with students in my community. We are particularly proud of the speech that twelve year old Bezalel Brian Benson delivered at the annual Americanism program held February 14, 1998. The inspiring quality of this speech moves me to share it with you. Bez, as he is called, is an outstanding student at St. Joseph's Elementary School. He came to the attention of DAVA because of two essays which won first place in the DAVA State contests held in 1997 and 1998 entitled: ``Why I Love America'' and ``What the Flag Means To Me.'' The following is the text of his speech of February 14th: Good afternoon. To the California State Senior Vice Commander Donna Stennett, junior State Commander Evonne Oden, Acting Commander of the Auxiliary for Unit #7 Pat Kinzel, Co- chairman Gloria Almodovar; Members of the Auxiliary and honored guests. It is a blessing to be here this afternoon. It was an honor to win the overall contest of the district last year, and to win first place in the California State Disabled American Veterans Essay Contest. I was also blessed with receiving a personal letter from the President of the United States, President Bill Clinton, a flag flown over our nation's Capitol, and a letter of authenticity. Over the last year, I have maintained my status as an ``A'' student, I was appointed to the journalism team at St. Joseph Elementary School, and again made it to the school's spelling bee finals. Because of God's blessings and freedom of our nation, these achievements were made possible. At this time I would like to talk about why we should show appreciation through our actions for the war veteran's tremendous efforts. After learning about the history of America throughout my life, I have realized just how much effort, courage, and bravery it took to make America a free country and a great one as well. Over the years Americans have sacrificed for what they believed in. The 13 colonies in North America sacrificed by bravely rebelling against England and going through many hardships and conflicts. They did this for the cause of freedom. The war veterans, the government of the United States, and even U.S. citizens sacrificed during both World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even the war on Bosnia. They did this because they believed in fighting for people's rights and the gift of freedom. Change often comes by sacrifice and that is what Americans have done. After imaging how I would have felt participating in a war, I realized that times were pretty scary. It must have been hard having bullets whizzing past your head, and the ground shaking beneath your feet because of cannon fire. It must have been hard running on the battlefield, dodging bullets, with explosions all around you. It must have been hard living every day with the fear of death, and not knowing if you will ever see your families again. Yet these war veterans who stood up to their country succeeded during these hardships because they had strength from God and a strong love for America. When you have God in your life, and you love Him truly and honestly, and you call upon Him for guidance, you will have an inner strength that no person or thing can take away from you. A strength so powerful, that not even the fear of death can destroy it. I'm sure that these war veterans had strength from God and a strong love for America. Because of the veterans' efforts in these wars, they helped America become one of the greatest countries on the face of the earth. Because of their love and sacrifice we live in a nation today that is governed by a fair and democratic government. Because of their efforts they helped protect not only the rights of Americans over the years, but the rights of other people throughout the world as well. I believe that all Americans should show appreciation for the veterans' tremendous effort. We must realize that many people died for us! We must realize that someone lost an arm, or lost their legs for the sake of our freedom. So don't you think that we should do our part, and give something back to them, by helping to make America the best country it can be? Our veterans fought and died for America, so shouldn't we take care of the country they loved, and continue to make it a better place for all of us? If we don't, we will literally ruin and destroy our country, and all the efforts of our war veterans will be wasted. One person cannot make America a great country. But if we all try to be the best Christians we can be, America will continue to be a wonderful nation. If we do this, then the 12,000 Americans who died for us in World War II alone would have died to make America a great country and not for any reason at all. If we do this, then the men and women who died for our freedom, the men that lost their limbs, the families whose men and women became widows, the children who would never see their parents again will know that they fought for a worthy cause. If we do this, America, will continue to be a great nation, and the war veterans' efforts will not be wasted. As Americans we must follow the example of the war veterans. In our everyday lives, we must show bravery, courage, and effort through our actions, whether it is in the work force, taking care of a child, or trying to make people's lives better through science and technology. We must take care of the standards of living that the war veterans helped to give us. If all the people in this diverse culture act in a superb manner everyday, then our country will be superb as well. That is why I would like to be the very best person I can be. I would like to follow the example of the war veterans, and give something back to these courageous fighters. I and many other youth my age will try to do our best to continue to carry the torch for freedom. We should and we will have God as the guidance of our lives as we try to lead the United States into the 21st century. With God as my leader, I will try to walk on the roads of life with the Holy Spirit as my light and I will try to use the lessons that the war veterans have taught me to overcome life's obstacles and challenges. The war veterans have made a tremendous impact on all our lives, and all of us as Americans must continue to carry the touch of freedom. I would like to thank you for inviting me here today, and I praise the Lord for allowing me to live in a country I love, the United States of America.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 3150, the Bankruptcy Reform Conference Report. I opposed the bill as a member of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services when we voted on this measure in the House because it allows unscrupulous creditors to continue to exploit uninformed and naive borrowers. There is a problem with increasing rates of bankruptcy, but this Conference report places the burden of a bad loan not on those who knowingly loan to people who are credit risks, but on those who are least able to recover should a personal disaster strike, like illness or job loss. Household debt has risen sharply and defaulting on payment is a serious problem but this bill does not reasonably address these problems. Instead, the bill allows the lender to effectively entrap a poor person who needs money to borrow beyond the safety point. The lending institutions are knowledgeable and sophisticated about the credit market and they do know to whom they are lending money. If this bill passes, the government and taxpayers will be forced to protect, by law, the lending institution, which has deliberately pushed a risky loan, at the expense of low-income American consumers. Specifically, this bill will allow credit card companies and other consumer creditors to compete for repayment with child support, spousal support, debts to drunk driving victims, and other high-priority debts. The Conference Report strips important Senate bill consumer protections which limited undue coercion and the use of other strong-arm practices to force a debtor to repay. This bill is blatantly unfair. It protects and even rewards businesses that use marginally safe lending guidelines and elevates their collection rights to the same privileged level as child support and tax arrears. The President has correctly announced that he will veto this bill. It is also strongly opposed by the AFL-CIO, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Public Citizen, the National Organization of Women, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the National Bankruptcy Conference, the Commercial Law League, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the National Organization for Victim Assistance. I believe that our function as legislators is to enact laws that are fair and that are reasonable, and I believe that we have an obligation to be aware of vast imbalances of power and to protect those who need protection from more powerful entities. I urge my colleagues to support the motion to recommit and to vote against the Conference Report on H.R. 3150.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong opposition to any impeachment inquiry, and hopefully we will move forward though in a fair and speedy process. (Ms. ESHOO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H. Res. 581, the Republican resolution to begin impeachment proceedings regarding the President of the United States. People have stated overwhelmingly, in a loud, clear and unified voice, that the Congress must not proceed with a long, open-ended, and partisan impeachment proceeding. I have not, nor will I condone the President's behavior. He was wrong, and he should never had lied about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Nevertheless, the prosecutor's investigation and the Congress' discussions and hearings about the President's behavior have been unfair from the start. As a result, I oppose the continuation of independent counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation--which has been a four-year, partisan effort to discredit the President--as well as any related investigations and inquiries. It should be noted that, despite the length of the investigation and the intense scrutiny of the President and his friends, Prosecutor Starr and the Republicans have come up largely empty-handed, except with regard to the President's behavior in the Monica Lewinsky matter. When the Starr investigation produced a now-infamous and, at times, pornographic report, I voted against the release of the Starr report because I felt the material to be unfair and inappropriate, and because the President and his lawyers did not have a chance to review the report before it was released to the public on the internet, and in all of the newspapers. And so today, I oppose the Republican resolution to begin Presidential impeachment hearings: I strongly oppose any form of impeachment inquiry because I firmly believe that lying about a sexual affair does not constitute an impeachable offense, and because the investigation and the hearings are yet another political effort to undermine the President. The allegations against the President do not constitute high crimes and misdemeanors. They certainly are not comparable to high crimes and misdemeanors like treason or bribery. Even more, the resolution creates a political circus on the national stage, with no limitations in scope and length, no controls, no definitions, and no justice. And worse still, the process itself is an attempt to overthrow our Democratic agenda; in other words, we are witnessing an attempted coup d'etat. Today is a sad day for the country. We can only hope now that, despite the past weeks and months, the Congress will proceed quickly with an investigation that is fair and, especially, limited in scope and length. The American people have stated that we must move quickly and get on with the work we were elected to do. The real immorality and scandal in this country is that, because of this partisan process, we have not been able to do the important work of preserving social security, protecting our environment, educating our children, or ensuring health care reform.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today it gives me great pleasure to rise in honor of one of our colleagues, a true visionary and a pioneer and a fellow Californian, the honorable Esteban Torres. Although I am really saddened by his departure from the halls of Congress and what it means in terms of his loss to the people of California, I am truly inspired by the legacy which he has left and the way in which his actions have touched and changed the lives of so many people. Congressman Torres, knowing you and your background, knowing that you were the son of a Mexican born miner, you know firsthand what social justice is all about. Since you were first elected to Congress in November of 1982 as a representative of the 34th Congressional District, Congressman Torres has worked hard to pass legislation addressing the needs of all of our communities. Throughout his almost two decades of dedicated service in this House he has been able to contribute his exceptional and unique knowledge of politics and his extraordinary life experiences to make the legislative process work for those with no voice. And long before coming to Congress, the gentleman from California (Mr. Torres) was already a well-respected leader who worked on the assembly line as part of the automotive work force. What a history. He was a stand-out leader in the labor movement, traveling all over the Americas to help emerging democracies. Congressman Torres has been instrumental in providing humanitarian services and help to the people of Cuba. It is because of his leadership that the pastors for peace and the United States Department of Treasury have reached an accord to allow medical computers to be delivered to Cuban health care facilities where this equipment is desperately needed. But the gentleman's commitment to the people of Cuba and to the rest of our Latin American neighbors goes far beyond humanitarian actions. Congressman Torres has also raised his voice in the fight to close the School of the Americas, which has trained military dictators, in an effort to end this horrendous chapter in our history. I thank Congressman Esteban Torres for that and for taking lead on that. He has truly been a pioneer. The list of your accomplishments, Esteban, really inspires, not only Latinos and other people of color, but the working men and women everywhere. Congressman Torres is a man of honor and an effective communicator and an extraordinary coalition builder which is so important for us in this day and time. L. J. Cardinal once said, ``Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.'' Congressman Torres is a living example of what can be done through hard work and dedication. So as we honor Congressman Torres, we need to really recommit ourselves to work on behalf of those with no voice. Congressman Torres, as one of the newest Members of Congress, I promise that we are going to work to ensure that your legacy is preserved. So I just want to thank you so much for your commitment and your work on behalf of the working men and women of America. Your work and your deeds really do speak for themselves. You will be deeply missed. I wish you and your family Godspeed as you enter this next phase of your life.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 4280, the Federal Employee Child Care Affordability Act. I supported a version of this bill, the Morella amendment, on June 14, 1998, when it came up as an amendment of H.R. 4104, the Treasury-Postal Appropriations Act of 1999. The amendment was to permit federal agencies to use their salary and expense accounts to help federal employees pay for child care. I am pleased to support it again. The lack of reliable child care was an issue before the passage of welfare-to-work reform. Now, it has become more urgent than ever. We are realizing the effects that we feared when welfare reform passed in August 1996. The welfare reform package drastically lacks the support systems necessary to help welfare recipients in transition. In California alone, for example, 200,000 children of working poor families are already on a waiting list for child care. In addition, the parents of nearly 950,000 children who currently receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) assistance will be expected to join the work force in the next few years. This means that nearly one million additional children may be without child care. In addition to women going from welfare to work, the overall number of working women is increasing. By the year 2006, it is estimated that 61.4 percent of women will be at work. Between the 1986-96 period, slightly more men than women entered the labor force, 52 percent compared with 48 percent. Forty-six percent of all workers today are women, up from 44 percent in 1986. In the 1996-2006 period, women and men are expected to enter the labor force in equal numbers. For anyone who has had to find child care or knows of someone who needs child care, the story is familiar: there is a severe shortage of reliable child care with necessary educational, physical, and nurturing standards at an affordable cost. Though child care workers are among our poorest paid, Federal child care still may cost up to $10,000 a year. I put myself in the position of a young woman, head-of-household, whose median salary is $19,752 a year. I would have to pay half of my pre-tax salary for child care. How do my children and I survive? H.R. 4280 is a real winner in that it provides part of the solution. H.R. 4280 addresses this continuing crisis in finding adequate child care by allowing federal agencies to use their salary and expense accounts to help low-income employees pay for child care. This bill has an extra bonus in that it will not need additional appropriations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on September 14, I inadvertently voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 428. I ask that the Record reflect I intended a ``nay'' vote on House Concurrent Resolution 254.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on November 21, 1998, the Athletes United for Peace (AUP) will present the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' award to Mr. Martin Wyatt. Athletes United for Peace (AUP) is a Bay Area nonprofit organization committed to promoting peace, education, friendship and understanding through community programs and events for young people. The organization was established in 1984 after the boycott of the Olympic Games by athletes from the former USSR and the United States. In 1992, after serving primarily as an international organization during the early years, AUP focused its energy toward providing programs and activities for high-risk youth and young adults throughout the East Bay communities of Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond. The organization continually strives to offer low-income disadvantaged participants programs and events that promote the agency's ideals and serve as health alternatives to criminal activity and antisocial behavior amongst young people. Each year, AUP serves more than 700 young people between the ages of 7-26 with programs, activities and events that include: mentorship, late-night basketball, academic and sports camps, youth sport camps and clinics, video production training, academic lectures, tournaments and special events. These services are regularly provided in partnership with several public schools, local government and law enforcement agencies, and the local business community. AUP established the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' Award in 1994 as a tribute to the last Oakland philanthropist who devoted his life to help aspiring Bay Area young people through his ``Save High School Sports'' Foundation (established in 1985) in Oakland, CA. Through Don Barksdale's diligent efforts, the foundation raised more than one million dollars to help fund financially troubled high school sports programs throughout the Bay Area. Don Barksdale, a sports and entertainment pioneer, broke the color barrier and paved the road for countless other people. In the 1940's and the 1950's, he was the Nation's premiere African American basketball star and was named to the NCAA college basketball All America team (UCLA 1947); selected to compete in the US Men's Olympic Basketball team (London 1948); and played in the NBA All Star game (Ft. Wayne 1953). Don Barksdale was a trailblazer being the first popular radio disc jockey (KROW and KLX); the first to host a weekly television show (SEPIA REVIEW KRON 4); the first to own and operate a beer distributorship, while integrating the local beverage driver's union in Oakland. He helped thousands of musicians and entertainers break into the entertainment industry by employing them at the Sportsman and Showcase night clubs that he owned and operated in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Don Barksdale's impact on the East Bay is unparalleled and recognized through the Athletes United for Peace awards. The Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' award recipient is Martin Wyatt, founder of the ``Sports Image & Education Foundation.'' He will be recognized for his dedication and commitment to charitable agencies in the community serving youth. Martin Wyatt, an Emmy award winning television sports anchor/director for ABC TV in San Francisco, is the annual host of his foundations' ``Sports Image Award'' ceremony that honors men and women in sports who do enormous amount of community work. He has also devoted time serving on the board of directors for the Bay Area Black United Fund and the Oakland Area Black community Crusade for Children. It is with great pride and honor that I salute the work of the Athletes United for Peace and Martin Wyatt, a deserving recipient of the Don Barksdale ``Humanitarian of the Year'' award.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with you the exemplary work of a community service organization that addressed the need for a battered woman's program in the East Bay. ``A Safe Place'' was founded by four women who began providing crisis counseling, referral, and information services from an office in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oakland. Under the leadership of the Executive Director, Ms. Carolyn Russell, the agency has grown with expanded programs and services. A Safe Place continues to be the only shelter exclusively for women and children who are homeless due to domestic violence. A Safe Place exists to provide battered women and their children with transitional and supportive services to enable them to break the cycle of violence and regain a sense of self-esteem and personal power. A Safe Place is a comprehensive and holistic approach to service the needs of battered women and children under the Domestic Violence Assistance program. This program consists of Emergency Shelter, Community Counseling, Community Education and Outreach. A Safe Place provides urgent safe shelter with counseling and support services; a community counseling and support group, and education on domestic violence. A special therapeutic service is directed to children who have witnessed domestic violence. The most recent program, and one of its greatest accomplishments, is a partnership with the Oakland Police Department in its implementation of a Domestic Violence Unit located in the police department with family violence coordinators. Recognizing that domestic violence is a health issue and battered women are seen by medical providers, A Safe Place has developed partnerships with local hospitals to develop a Domestic Violence Medical Response Project, where staff can respond to battered women who are seen in local emergency rooms and clinics. Domestic violence in teen relationships has increased. ``Young People Taking Action'' is a comprehensive teen violence prevention educational program, providing education on teen relationship violence, resources and alternatives for battered teens and criteria for establishing healthy relationships. This program is successfully implemented in the Oakland Unified School District. A Safe Place has developed partnerships and joined forces with local agencies including law enforcement, the criminal justice system, medical community, social service agencies and with families and friends of battered women. The goal is to decrease domestic violence in our community to make it a safe place for our children to have a quality of life without fear and violence. In 1996, California law enforcement agencies fielded nearly 228,000 domestic violence related calls. National crime surveys show that domestic violence directly affects our communities and families. A Safe Place provides a refuge and an important bridge for victims of domestic abuse to move to a position where they are better able to protect themselves. Part of this process draws in members of the larger community in forums to learn more about this epidemic. On October 23, 1998, A Safe Place will celebrate its 20th year of providing quality services to families in the East Bay in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I would like to extend my congratulations to A Safe Place for 20 years of community service and to the five women being honored for their longstanding work: Liz Hendrickson, Kim Kline, Cheri Pies, Nancy Brester, and civil rights attorney, Eva Jefferson-Paterson, for her legal work on behalf of A Safe Place with the Oakland Police Department. Together with A Safe Place and other partners to decrease domestic violence, I am proud to join with A Safe Place and other partners to decrease domestic violence by encouraging the continuation of similar programs of community service to improve the quality of life of all our citizens.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for yielding me some time today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican tax cut bill. Taxes really are like powerful medicine, and yet we take our medicine as we pay our taxes because we know it is key to survival. I want tax cuts like everyone else. But when it comes to taxes, we are the doctors. The patient is a vital and viable Social Security system. And like any institution with longevity, the Social Security system needs constant checkups and tuning. We are in the process of tuning, of making adjustments so that Social Security can remain the rock that this Nation created. The Republican tax bill threatens the health and the life of Social Security. The Republican tax cut is not only irresponsible, but the cut really is a killer. The Republicans plan to pay for these cuts with a budget surplus that really does not exist. The Congressional Budget Office says 98 percent of this surplus is from the Social Security trust fund. The tax cuts come from robbing Social Security. Our social and physical health is really fundamental in this country and our parents and our grandparents work, our children and our grandchildren will work, and for those who have not had the opportunity to work we must support job training and job creation as a national commitment. Most Americans believe in the work ethic, but 64 percent of Americans also believe in avoiding cuts in Medicare and education, and they believe that that is more important than cutting taxes. Only 12 percent of Americans choose a tax cut before reforming the Social Security and Medicare systems and reducing the national debt. Americans care deeply about being leaders in inventiveness, in creativity, in commercial acumen, in productivity. We must also become leaders in caring for our seniors, our children, our families, and being responsible. We must stabilize Social Security before we start spending money we do not have. Vote ``no'' on the Republican tax bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong opposition to H.R. 4578. I oppose any Republican attempt to undermine Social Security by proposing a big tax cut during this election year. In the 1930s, before Social Security, many hard-working Americans who had no family to care for them lived in the streets, and sometimes they starved. Social Security was created to reduce this type of primitive poverty, conditions that are unconscionable in our time and in our Nation of wealth and resources. We need Social Security for the 30 million hard-working Americans who, after a lifetime of low-wage jobs, have no money for retirement. Without Social Security, they would have nothing. We need Social Security for the 5.5 million Americans with severe disabilities who are unable to work. They would be destitute without Social Security. This Congress has an obligation to strengthen Social Security, because working people have earned and deserve Social Security. It is the most sacred, fundamental measure for the survival of all Americans. That is why tax cuts are not an option until Social Security is 100 percent secure. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 4578.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in the commemoration of the 30th Year Celebration of the Center of Hope Community Church in the East Oakland community and the Bay area. This event will be held the week of September 27 to October 3, 1998. Under the leadership of Dr. Ernestine Cleveland Reems Pastor and Founder, the Centers of Hope have made rehabilitation and restoration of their neighborhood the center of their pastoral mission. While many concentrate on the deterioration of human lives, Center of Hope is a ``Beacon of Hope'' focusing on fostering urban renewal and reform. Its accomplishments, over the last 30 years in community development, are successful testaments to community parthership with Oakland's civic and corporate leadership to build a better Oakland. The success it has achieved in its various programs has led to an 85% reduction in crime in the area. The Church founded the Hope School of Excellence, a preschool to 8th grade curricula in 1978, and many of the School's graduates have gone on to Morehouse, Howard, Spellman and the University of California. In 1985, the Food and Clothing Bank was organized to serve hot, nourishing meals and distribute clothing to the East Oakland community on a weekly basis. Single parents and/or low income households are the targets of Project REDY (Reems Enrichment Development for Youth) established in 1986, which provides development and enrichment for their children. The Center of Hope Community Church has provided housing to the most vulnerable members of the community. E.E. Cleveland Manor, erected in 1990, is a 54-unit housing complex for senior and disabled residents. Opened in 1992, the Matilda Cleveland Transitional Housing Program is a full service housing facility for homeless single women and their children. E.C. Reems Gardens is a 150-unit affordable housing complex finished in 1998. Alvingroom Court was renamed E.C. Reems Courts in honor of its Pastor and Founder, Dr. Ernestine Cleveland Reems. Dr. Reems was born to Elmer Elijah and Matilda Cleveland in Oklamulgee, Oklahoma and, at the age of nine, the family moved to Richmond, Califormia. She attended Richmond High School and Patton Bible College in Oakland. Dr. Reems, faith and education to the ministry were forged when she contracted tuberculosis at age thirteen and determined that the call of God to preach the Gospel was her life's salvation. She received her spiritual foundation in the World of God through her father, Bishop E.E. Cleveland, a national evangelist. Dr. Reems with her brother, Elmer Cleveland Jr., traveled to every major city in this country. Pastor Ernestine Reems has set the pace for women in the ministry when she founded the Center of Hope with four members in 1968. Today, the membership exceeds 1,500. In 1973, the United States Army sent for Pastor Reems and her crusade to minister to the soldiers in West Germany for which she was honored as a Five-Star General. However, greater satisfaction came from teaching and preaching the gospel which won many soldiers to Christ. Accolades have been bestowed upon Dr. Reems: Outstanding Service in Religion, Top 100 Black Business & Professional Women in America, Outstanding Community Service Award, State of California Legislature Women of the Year Award, Christian Image Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few. Her highest honor was conferred upon her on February 14, 1998 as a Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Ernestine C. Reems, as a pastor and teacher continues, to be a full-time Evangelist with the support of her husband, Paul Reems and their two sons, Brandon and Brian Ernest Reems. New heights of achievements are in the horizon for Pastor Reems and the Center of Hope Community Church and I wish them another 30 years of successful ministry.

Mr. LEE

Mr. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my California colleague, hall mate/neighbor, friend, roll model, and mentor, Vic Fazio. Long admired for his legislative and political knowledge and ability, as well his leadership capacity and style, he will be, in my mind, the consensus builder and public servant extraordinaire. Vic was one of the first people I spoke with upon my arrival on Capitol Hill. His advice, counsel and guidance have made a tremendous impact on the path I now follow in this institution. Thank you Vic for all you had done for California, especially northern California. Your commitment to our State on the issues that are important to people is commendable because you truly care. Vic Fazio has made an indelible mark on this institution and will be sorely missed. Your career has been exemplary and we are privileged to have had benefit of your insight, knowledge and positive energy. Your distinguished leadership, combined with integrity and hard work, has been an inspiration to many. Those on both sides of the isle seek have sought your counsel on a myriad of issues. Your tireless work as Democratic caucus chair has provided us a vehicle to share concerns, air opinions and develop consensus on a host of issues important to this institution and ultimately to the Nation. I will miss your warmth and caring, and most of all you smile. Vic, may you, Judy, and the family enjoy all the happiness and blessings life has to offer. You deserve only the best.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, from an idea conceived by the late Reverend Silks Lincoln Tillman, a tiny Mission was organized in 1918 at 1934 Bonita Avenue in Berkeley, California. The purpose of the Mission was to meet the spiritual needs of the citizens in the rapidly growing city of Berkeley. The name, Mt. Pleasant, was given to the Mission because of the great love Reverend Tillman had for Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in his native home of Mississippi. Rev. Tillman served both as Pastor and Sunday School Superintendent of Mt. Pleasant Mission. During the early years, several ministers were called to the church during the period from 1921 through 1930. In 1930, the church was moved from its original location to its present site on the corner of McGee Avenue and Stuart Streets in Berkeley. During the Great Depression, the Mt. Pleasant Church building was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt under the direction of Pastor C. Brown. In 1935, Reverend James Dee Wilson accepted the pastorate of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Through his leadership and ministry, Mt. Pleasant became a moving force in the life of Berkeley. In 1944, the name of the church was changed from Mt. Pleasant to McGee Avenue Baptist and incorporated during the same year. Reverend Wadie H. Sypert, serving in the capacity of Assistant Pastor, accepted the call as pastor of the Church in 1950. He was a man of versatility and was an accomplished pastor as well as an educator. The mortgage of the Church was burned under his leadership and Rev. Sypert retired in 1971. Reverend James H. Stewart accepted the pastorate in October 1971. He took the reins of leadership with enthusiasm and expanded the church programs to great proportions. He upgraded the existing facilities and acquired additional properties. During the late 70's and early 80's the church expanded its mission to feed the indigent and unemployed. Two hundred to three hundred persons are provided hot meals three days a week. After 21 years as pastor, Rev. Stewart retired in June, 1992. On February 21, 1993, Rev. D. Mark Wilson was installed as pastor of McGee Avenue Baptist Church. Within a 6-year period, Rev. Wilson has led the Church to new heights. McGee Avenue Baptists Church became a strong and well-represented Church in the American Baptist Churches USA and as a member of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Under Pastor Wilson's administration, the thousand members historic black Baptist Church has strengthened spiritual witness and fellowship with the congregation and in the local community. The Church has received funding from the City of Berkeley to expand its social justice ministries. It continues in collaborative efforts with local community- based organizations in establishing outstanding programs for youth and adults: HIV and Aids Education, Computer Literacy, Educational Aid and Bible Study. Pastor Wilson is well known throughout the country as a dynamic preacher, musician and social justice activist. He has served on numerous boards and organizations as past Chair of the Political Action and Human Rights Committee of the Progressive Baptist State Convention and a former Northern California Regional Convenor of the American Baptist Black Caucus. In 1996, the Church created the McGee Avenue Baptist Church Community Development Corporation for senior housing and facilities for the Church outreach program. Pastor Wilson, with the congregation, defined the motto and mission statement of the Church. On September 8, 1997, construction began on the McGee Avenue Baptist Church Kitchen Remodeling and its completion assured the continuation of its food project. McGee Baptist Church established a fully equipped Community Computer Center, instituted Home Bible Studies and has licensed and ordained a growing number of ministers of the gospel. I join in joyous celebration with Pastor Wilson, the McGee Avenue Baptist Church members and its friends and look forward to continued growth, worship, grace and service to God and the people.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute Mr. Marvin R. Smith, who today will receive the National Minority Advocate of the Year Award. Mr. Speaker, almost 16 years ago, President Ronald Reagan designated the first full week of October 1983 as Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. Designated by every President since then, MED Week is an annual national celebration in recognition of the contributions made by minority businesses to the Nation's economy as well as to acknowledge individuals whose efforts have advanced minority business development throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, MED Week is the largest federal advocacy activity sponsored on behalf of minority businesses. It is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Minority Enterprise Development. Each fall, MED Weeks are held across the country. Observances culminate at a National Conference in Washington, D.C. The week of September 20-26, 1998, was included in this year's presidential proclamation. Each year a theme is chosen by the MED Week Committee to reflect current issues or emphasis. This year's theme is ``Creating a Competitive Advantage in a Changing Business environment.'' Awards are presented by MBDA and SBA to minority-owned businesses and other individuals chosen from nominations received in the respective regional offices around the country. As nominations are received, they are reviewed and evaluated by panels in the regional offices. Award winners in the various categories from the five regional offices (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York and San Francisco) are presented to MBDA headquarters and evaluated by a review panel at that level for national recognition. Mr. Speaker, I feel honored to mention that Marvin R. Smith, who works as Manager of the Supplier Management and Business Affirmative Action Office (SM/BAAO) of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) (Livermore, CA) and a resident of the 9th District, has also been selected to receive the award of ``National Minority Advocate of the Year.'' Just days after receiving the ``Regional Minority Advocate of the Year Award'' in San Francisco on September 10, 1998. Mr. Smith has served in various managerial positions at LLNL for the past 20 years. The primary objective of the SM/BAAO is to enhance the quality of vendors doing business with LLNL and to simultaneously assist the laboratory in achieving its socioeconomic goals. As a part of this effort the SM/BAAO strives to identify qualified small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses and to assist in enhancing their capabilities so that they become viable competitors with the larger integrated concerns currently providing supplies and service to the Laboratory, as well as to increase the extent to which they receive Laboratory Awards/Contracts, something we commonly know as procurement dollars. I am proud to say that, during the past three fiscal years (1995, 1996 and 1997) as a result of Mr. Smith's leadership and efforts LLNL has provided $180.86 million in direct procurement awards to small disadvantaged/minority business enterprises. During that same period of time $43.7 million were awarded to 2nd tier disadvantage/minority subcontracts. Mr. Smith, who is also a longtime civil rights activist, has held a host of positions on local, state and national committees, commissions and organizations. He has long been involved in leadership positions in a myriad of community activities relating, but not limited, to entrepreneurship, mentoring, youth awareness, community economic development, education, fairness in law enforcement/equity in justice and diversity. Prior to assuming his position with the laboratory, Mr. Smith was the San Francisco Regional Director for the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Compliance Division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Previous to that he was a police officer for the Richmond (CA) Police Department. Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from California State university at Hayward; earned a Masters in Public Administration Degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco; was a Ph.D. candidate in Public Administration at Golden Gate University (ABD) and holds several professional certificates in Management and Public Administration. Mr. Speaker, today, I join with the organizers, sponsors and most of my Congressional colleagues in expressing my sincere congratulations to Marvin Smith for his commendable efforts and contributions to minority businesses. Thank you for your commitment and service.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise to speak against this rule, and also against the funding for the IMF. However, it is critical that this body be able to speak to and debate this measure, wherever one stands on the International Monetary Fund. The Committee on Banking and Financial Services, on which I sit, held several days of hearings on the Russian economic crisis and expanding economic turmoil internationally. The witness's testimony in our committee discussions were consistent with much of the news in our daily media. Major parts of Asia are in severe recession and going into a depression. Indonesia, in spite of or because of the IMF, is in extreme difficulty. Russia, in spite of or because of the IMF, is in severe crisis, and these two areas are affecting Latin America and the United States. We know that it has been harmful to people who are not part of the political and economic oligarchy, particularly women and children. The $6 billion disbursed in Indonesia has been estimated to match the corrupt appropriation of this money by Suharto and his extended family. In Russia, IMF bailout has gone into the maze of corruption, the Mafia, and oligarchs. In Africa, in Haiti, in Mexico, in developing countries that have arranged for IMF loan programs, the developing economies have had to shift their priorities from food crop production to cash crops, thereby creating local food shortages and making the poor even more dependent on cash that they do not have. IMF loan repayment policies mandate that priorities shift from the most minimum education and health care programs to paying interest on the loan. Mr. Speaker, these issues, believe me, these issues deserve a full and fair debate on this floor. I urge a ``no'' vote against the rule.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my opposition to the Shaw amendment to H.R. 4300. The amendment would allow any state, county, port authority or any local government entity to utilize information collected by the U.S. Justice Department about working men and women at our nation's ports. This draconian measure was introduced in response to drug smuggling activities of a few longshore workers in the State of Florida. The longshore and port workers in my district work hard. They are a proud lot. They are proud of their affiliation with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union--a union dedicated to democracy, economic security for all workers and a peaceful world. The Shaw legislation is a dagger in the heart of these patriotic Americans. Port workers perceive this legislation as questioning their character and honesty. The legislation would affect workers on the West Coast involved in the international drug trade. It is blatantly offensive to single these workers out because of a few bad apples in one state. The Constitutional right to privacy is cherished by the American people, and there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant local government officials rifling through FBI and Justice Department files on a select group of individuals. There are no safeguards in the Shaw amendment to prevent the dissemination of sensitive information on individuals to use material for selfish political ends, blackmail, or any other nefarious activity. Surely, there is a better way to fight drugs than to invade the privacy of a proud group of workers.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3892. The English Language Fluency Act is really a drastic misnomer. In the wake of Proposition 227 in California, this issue is vital to my district. In the Oakland Unified School District, for example, 18,000 students, or one-third of our students, are in Limited English Proficient Programs, a 61 percent increase over the past 10 years. Since school districts across the country are experiencing similar trends, we logically need to support increased resources for bilingual education. This bill does just the opposite. Mandating all students to master the English language in just two years is a dangerous and restrictive policy. Although some exceptional children can survive in this sink or swim program, these artificial deadlines only set up the majority to fail. After two years in a foreign land, with a foreign language and culture, if we were required to pass a test to get a job, to enter an education class or access other necessary opportunities, we would not be able to pass. I do not believe most Members of Congress could learn Greek or Russian in two years. By turning existing bilingual programs into block grants, this bill does not require states to distribute funds to the most needy students. Without this protection, the students most in need become even more vulnerable to fail. By eliminating the emergency immigrant education program, this bill leaves no support or assistance for new immigrants, those who are most likely to have limited English language skills and require extensive programs to learn English. Finally, in order to promote effective English education programs, we obviously need to increase resources for new teachers and teacher training, not eliminate them. This bill cuts bilingual teacher training programs. For these reasons, I urge a no vote on H.R. 3892. It is a disastrous anti-education bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3295 which designates a Federal building in Oakland, California, as the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building. The naming of this building after my distinguished predecessor, Ronald V. Dellums, is truly an honor that many of his constituents his colleagues and his supporters from across the Nation have awaited as a mark of recognition and as a symbol of our appreciation for the role that he played, the leadership that he gave, the work that he did, and the spiritual uplift that he gave to the critical issues of our time. Ron, as constituents, colleagues, family, and friends call him, we have called him that from the time actually of his membership on the Berkeley City Council in 1967, Ron became the focus and the leader of an ever growing group of people who were hungry for leadership on the critical issues of the late 1960s and the 1970s. These were people, activists who were upset about the Vietnam war, angry about injustices against blacks, people of color, women, and all those yearning to be a part of the larger America that would be moral and ethical in our domestic and foreign policy. Ron V. Dellums, like his elder contemporary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ignited the activists for civil rights and activists for peace. For over two decades, this coalition provided some of the greatest political energies and social and political achievements that we have ever known. This coalition propelled Ron to the House of Representatives where as a result of his distinguished work in the Armed Services Committee, now the Committee on National Security, he was elected to the chair and later the ranking member of that committee. He was valued and loved because of the role that he played on that committee and on the floor of Congress. He spoke to the fears and the doubts regarding the war in Southeast Asia. He addressed passionately the need for social and economic justice at home and abroad. He also helped to forge the annual Alternative Budget, which was a product of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This budget was of tremendous importance to his district and his national constituents because it provided a necessary voice for many of our deepest moral considerations. The people who worked with Ron, who supported Ron, who became the people also who loved Ron, value this designation of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building. I want to thank my colleagues for honoring Ronald V. Dellums by designating this building in his name.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3295, which designates a federal building in Oakland, California as the ``Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.'' The naming of this building after my predecessor, Ronald V. Dellums, is an honor that many of his constituents, his colleagues, and his supporters from across this nation have awaited; it is a mark of recognition, a symbol of their appreciation, our appreciation, for the role that he played, the leadership that he gave, the work that he did, and the spiritual uplift that he gave to the critical issues of our times. Ron, as constituents, colleagues, friends and family call him, from the time of his first office as a member of the Berkeley City Council, became the focus and the leader of a ever-growing group of people who were hungry for leadership on the critical issues of the late 1960s and the 1970s. These people activists who were upset, angry about the Vietnam War, angry about injustices to Blacks and people of color, and yearning to be part of a larger America that would be moral and ethical domestically and internationally. Like his elder contemporary Martin Luther King, Jr., Ron Dellums, joined the activists for civil rights and activists for peace. For over two decades, this coalition provided some of the greatest political energies and social and political achievements that we have known. This coalition propelled him to the House of Representatives where, as a result of his distinguished work in the Armed Services Committee, now the National Security Committee, he was elected to be the Chair and later the Ranking Member of that committee. He was valued and loved because of the role that he took on that committee and on the floor of Congress. He spoke the fears and doubts about an involvement in the war in Southeast Asia; he addressed, passionately, the need for social and economic justice domestically and abroad. He helped to forge the annual Alternative Budget which was a product of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This budget was of tremendous importance to his district and to national constituents because it provided a necessary voice to many of their deepest moral considerations. The people who worked with Ron, who supported Ron, who became the people who love Ron, I know will value this designation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today, we solemnly commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the uranium bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and, three days later, the plutonium bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The August 6th bombing was a shocking and tragic event; the second bombing three days later was no less cataclysmic. Now, 53 years later, for those of us who dare to look into the pit of this, our historical act, we can see the impact and the aftermath of the bombings and their implications in the arenas of defense and arms control, international relations, and human rights. As we commemorate these two events, it is not only to remember; we must also call upon ourselves to say to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to our children: Never again. Today we must also recognize those heroes and heroines who called our attention to the danger of strontium 90 distributed in our air-- strontium 90 released into our atmosphere during the testing of ever more powerful nuclear weapons. These pioneers in the anti-nuclear movement helped to create a force that alerted people all over the world to the incredible menace of an arsenal of over 36,000 nuclear weapons. Thankfully, the cold war is over. But the danger of nuclear war, of nuclear accidents, or of nuclear terrorism, is as real as it was during the long cold war. The United States had 6 nuclear warheads at the end of 1945. We now have 12,000. The USSR, now Russia and the Ukraine, had one warhead in 1949, and now have 23,000. In 1953, the United Kingdom had its first nuclear weapon; now, the nation has 260. France built 4 in 1964 and now has 450. China also built its first in 1964, and now has 400. Today we have definitive proof that India and Pakistan have nuclear bombs. Israel, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, and other nations appear poised to inform us that they, too, belong to the ``club.'' It is extremely difficult to contemplate any level of normalcy when we consider the implications and the threat that these weapons pose, the constant and ever-present possibility that something, or a combination of somethings, might go terribly wrong once again. The New England Journal of Medicine, in its April 30, 1998 issue, gave a special report on ``accidental nuclear war--a post-cold war assessment.'' I want to share with you some of their results and conclusions: ``U.S. and Russian nuclear-weapons systems remain on high alert. This fact, combined with the aging of Russian technical systems, has recently increased the risk of an accidental nuclear attack. As a conservative estimate, an accidental, intermediate-sized launch of weapons from a single Russian submarine would result in the death of [almost] 7 million people from firestorms in 8 U.S. cities. Millions of others would [probably] be exposed to potentially lethal radiation from fallout. An agreement to remove all nuclear missiles from high-level alert status and eliminate the capability of a rapid launch would put an end to this threat.'' Part of their conclusion is that ``the risk of an accidental nuclear attack has increased in recent years, threatening a public health disaster of unprecedented scale.'' I am one of three cosponsors of H. Con. Res. 307, a bill that proposes to address this most serious of issues. Our bill proclaims that it is in the best interest of the nation and the world to ban nuclear tests forever. The bill directs the Department of Energy, which has the responsibility for stewardship of the nuclear stockpile, to develop a program that is less costly, less provocative, and less likely to spend billions on facilities with little relevance to the safety of the arsenal. On this day, let us recall and celebrate that our collective efforts to achieve peace have prevented the unleashing of further, nuclear horrors like those seen 53 years ago in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet on this day in particular, let us be reminded that we must keep on working to educate ourselves and our society, and continue to make advances toward total nuclear disarmament.