Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Let me first thank the chairman for his leadership and for yielding and for his longstanding commitment and support for child nutrition programs and for our children. On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, first of all I want to thank our Speaker, Congresswoman DeLauro, and, again, Chairman Miller for their leadership. I have to thank the First Lady for her commitment to child nutrition and for launching the Let's Move program to fight childhood obesity. This program supports the First Lady's goal by reauthorizing and expanding our child nutrition programs to provide healthy, nutritious meals to our Nation's needy children. The Census Bureau's latest poverty statistics show that poverty is rampant throughout America in both Democratic and Republican districts. Let me just say, Madam Speaker, I personally know the value of these child nutrition programs. When I was a single mother on public assistance, raising two sons and going to college, I relied on school lunch programs for my children and I was on food stamps. This was really the only way, mind you, that I could feed my kids during some very difficult times. Unfortunately, this bill, however, feeds low-income children at the expense of the food stamp program. I know that the President and First Lady share this concern--I know Chairman Miller, our Speaker, Congresswoman DeLauro, the entire body shares this concern--and I know that the President will do everything that he can do to restore these unconscionable cuts, as he guaranteed to us yesterday. He has a deep commitment to our children and to our families, and his leadership on this bill really does demonstrate that. Today, more people are falling into poverty. Unemployment is at 9.6 percent, and double that in the black and Latino communities. We've got record foreclosures, and we still haven't passed an unemployment insurance compensation benefit package. We haven't extended this for those who desperately need help. Addressing the deficit on the backs of the poor while arguing for a $700 billion tax cut for the wealthy is really not who we are as a country. So I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us, to join the CBC in supporting this bill.

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This really should not be a Republican or a Democratic or a Green or an Independent issue. Providing a safety net for those in need during dire economic times is a moral and ethical responsibility that we have. The Congressional Black Caucus, of course, has always been known as the ``conscience of the Congress,'' and we recognize that, while not perfect, this is a bill that will create healthier children, healthier families, and a healthier country. And so we thank President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Miller, and our leadership team for moving this bill forward, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to restore the cuts which have been made to the food stamp program. [From the Census Bureau] United States--Congressional Districts by State; and for Puerto Rico (111th Congress) GCT1701. Percent of People Below Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (For Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) Universe: Population for whom poverty status is determined Data Set: 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates Survey: American Community Survey, Puerto Rico Community Survey

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the recent successful efforts of the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) in persuading the California State Assembly and Senate to adopt Assembly Member Bill Monning's ACR 129, making California the first state in the nation to agree to publicize the text of three, U.S- ratified U.N. human rights treaties, and to make the required periodic reports on race discrimination, police conduct, health care, prison conditions, treatment of the homeless, immigrant rights and many other violations of civil and political rights in all cities, counties and state agencies. Templates will be furnished for the state-wide reports, which seek ultimately to protect all civil rights, including those of arrested people, the unemployed, welfare applicants, members of the LGBT community, the disabled, children, seniors and union members. The treaties and protocols included in ACR 129 are: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD); and Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), ratified by the U.S. in 1992 and 1994. Two Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, ratified by the U.S. on December 23, 2002, are also covered. Yet, there is still much that can be done to ensure compliance with these treaties. MCLI was founded in 1965 and soon established its Human Rights Reporting Project dedicated to educating lawyers, legal workers, judges, legislators, and non-governmental organizations on existing international human rights law. Under the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Clause 2, a treaty is the supreme law of the land and its terms apply to state governments. These treaties require that their terms be publicized and that periodic reports be made at the federal and local levels. However, until attorney Ann Fagan Ginger of MCLI proposed the resolution, no state had publicized the treaty text or submitted information to be included in U.S. reports to the U.N. Committees administering the treaties. In 2008, MCLI persuaded the Berkeley City Commission on Peace and Justice to ask Berkeley City Council to require that each of its agencies prepare periodic activity reports and submit them to the U.S. Department of State for inclusion in its reports to the four U.N. Committees. On September 29, 2009, the Berkeley City Council adopted the United Nations Treaty Reports resolution on the basis that the human rights treaties reporting process had heightened concern about human rights in the city. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to extend my congratulations on this important milestone for the State of California. Thank you, MCLI staff and supporters, for all that you do to promote and protect human rights throughout the United States. I wish you continued success.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Michael I. Jordan, who this year was inducted as a Fellow into both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, a dual honor that has not been achieved in the past 150 years. In the sheer rarity of earning two invitations into separate Academies in the same year, Dr. Jordan distinguishes himself in the international science community, as well as in our Bay Area constituency, for his immense contributions to academia and the greater good. After receiving a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 1978, Dr. Jordan went on to complete a master's degree in Mathematics (Statistics) at Arizona State University and a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to being recruited to the University of California, Berkeley in 1998, Dr. Jordan served for 10 years as a faculty member of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Jordan currently serves as the Pehong Chen Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Jordan's scholarly work focuses on statistical machine learning, Bayesian nonparametric statistics, graphical models, as well as human motor control and speech production. Additionally, he has authored or edited over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 39 book chapters and six books. Dr. Jordan is a devoted member of many professional organizations and has received myriad accolades throughout his career, including the 2009 ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award and the 2006 IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award. He is also a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and President of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis (2010-2011). Moreover, Dr. Jordan's status as an internationally recognized, eminent scientist has allowed him to travel throughout the world to provide hundreds of invited lectures and scientific presentations at refereed conferences. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to thank Dr. Michael I. Jordan for his groundbreaking scientific work. We congratulate Dr. Jordan on his acceptance into both The National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are job creators. During this economic downturn, it is very important to support the engines of our economy which created two-thirds of the new jobs over the past 15 years. As a former small business owner for 11 years, I personally know what it takes to create jobs. For the life of me, I can't understand why Republicans have opposed the eight tax cuts for small businesses and the $30 billion lending fund for small businesses and community banks that will create $300 billion in investments. Republicans continue to deny small businesses the pro-growth initiatives that will help create jobs. Their true motives, to favor big business over small business, Wall Street over Main Street, and the wealthy over the middle class and the poor, have been exposed. Democrats are working day and night to help America recover from the Republican recession. Republicans should really try to make up for shattering the lives of millions by at least supporting small businesses to help turn the economy around.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 519 on H. Res. 1052, and rollcall vote No. 520 on H. Res. 1571. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on both resolutions.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Vonetta McGee, a trailblazing actress and local Bay Area community member. Known for her fearlessness, elegance and mastery of her craft, she was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Vonetta McGee will be remembered for her warm and vivacious presence in daily life, as well as her myriad film roles, acting beside screen legends such as Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Clint Eastwood and Sidney Poitier. With Ms. McGee's passing on July 9, 2010, we are reminded of her life's journey and the joyful legacy she inspired. Named for her father, Lawrence Vonetta McGee was born on January 14, 1945 in San Francisco, California. She graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School, and briefly studied law at San Francisco State University before moving to 1960s Rome, Italy to pursue her passion for acting at Cinecitta film studios. With the emerging popularity of Spaghetti Westerns, Ms. McGee was cast in ``The Great Silence,'' which opened in Italy in 1967, and ``Faustina,'' a comedy directed by Luigi Magni in 1968. She returned to the United States to appear with Sidney Poitier in ``The Lost Man'' (1969). And, in the early 1970s, she appeared in a string of blaxploitation pictures which made her famous, including ``Blacula,'' ``Melinda,'' ``Hammer,'' and ``The Big Bust-Out'' in 1972, and ``Shaft in Africa'' in 1973. These popular genre pictures starring African-American actors are a contested, yet important, part of cinematic history. Ms. McGee, believing that the ``blaxploitation'' label was a misnomer, imbued all of her characters with strength, grace and pride. She was a true professional who well knew the value and variety of entertainment. Her cast members, crew and directors often noted her kind approachability and her commitment to excellence. In 1974, she starred in ``Thomasine & Bushrod'' and landed a role in Clint Eastwood's ``The Eiger Sanction'' the following year. In 1977, she starred opposite Bernie Casey and Ron O'Neal in the film, ``Brothers.'' Her later movies included ``Repo Man'' in 1984 and ``To Sleep with Anger'' in 1990, followed by an increasing amount of episodic television work. In the mid 1980s, Vonetta McGee met and married the love of her life, actor Carl Lumbly, when she was cast as his detective character's wife in a Cagney & Lacey episode. They had a son, Brandon, and enjoyed many years together as soul mates. Vonetta is survived by her devoted husband, son, mother, three brothers and her sister. I was always inspired by Vonetta's positive attitude, her clear thinking, her politics and her love for humankind. I still remember her genuine friendship and her gracious hospitality when she welcomed me and my family into her beautiful Berkeley home. She was a friend and an amazing talent who will be deeply missed. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors a wonderful human being, Ms. Lawrence Vonetta McGee. The contributions she made to others throughout her life are countless and precious. My thoughts are with Mr. Carl Lumbly, his family, and Vonetta's extended group of loved ones as we celebrate her incredible life. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Oakland Housing Authority Executive Director Jon Gresley for his extraordinary career of public service and leadership on the occasion of his retirement. Known for his innovative vision of affordable housing, his steadfast commitment to those in need, and his talent for creating and sustaining important relationships among his staff, colleagues and community, Mr. Gresley has touched thousands of lives through his work in the Bay Area. Three decades ago, Mr. Jon Gresley turned a temporary assignment with the Oakland Housing Authority, OHA, into what has become a transformative legacy for our city's public housing. Under Mr. Gresley's excellent leadership during the past 32 years, OHA has achieved success through effective partnerships and offers a groundbreaking combination of services, safety and choice for its residents. The award-winning OHA, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2008, operates--directly or indirectly through partners and affiliates--about 4,000 affordable housing units and administers more than 11,000 Section 8 Vouchers. In keeping with Mr. Gresley's commitment to teamwork and ingenuity, OHA has formed a collaborative model that is an example within the affordable housing industry nationwide. Additionally, OHA is one of only a handful of housing authorities in the United States that has its own police department. As a key architect of OHA' s participation in the HOPE VI and Moving to Work, MTW, program applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Gresley helped to make OHA one of only 35 housing authorities in the Nation to receive special MTW designation. This designation has resulted in increased flexibility and opportunities for the Authority. OHA also obtained four HOPE VI grants, which allowed it to remodel nearly 400 rental units, and rebuild and expand 394 dilapidated public housing units into 939 units of self- sustaining, mixed-income developments. As can be seen at developments such as Tassafaronga, Mandela Gateway and Lion Creek Crossings, the creation, preservation, expansion and enhancement of affordable housing has defined Mr. Gresley's OHA tenure. Widely respected in his field, Mr. Gresley was sought after by leading groups such as the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, NAHRO, and the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, CLPHA, where he serves as Treasurer. His talents were also put to use as a presenter to various congressional committees, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank. I personally appreciate Jon's vigilance and his wisdom. I could always count on Jon whenever I needed good information to present to Congress regarding public housing. He has been a tremendous asset, not only to the 9th Congressional District, but to the entire country. Throughout his career, Mr. Gresley has been praised for his strategy, strong leadership, integrity and compassion. His work has created countless opportunities for community members to enjoy a better quality of life, secure hope for the future and reach their full potential. OHA will continue his work of building a brighter future for generations to come. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, Mr. Jon Gresley, I salute you. I congratulate you on your many achievements, and I wish you and your loved ones all the best in this next chapter of life.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th Anniversary of Children's Fairyland, the quintessential storybook park on the shores of Oakland's Lake Merritt. Since its debut in 1950, Fairyland has been an affordable and charming haven for children to play, dream and explore the reaches of their imaginations. It was the vision of local businessman Arthur Navlet in 1948 that led to the civic-minded Lake Merritt Breakfast Club's endorsement of an innovative children's park consisting of fairytale and storybook sets, farm animals and live entertainment for families. With the support of Oakland's Parks Superintendent William Penn Mott, Jr., the Breakfast Club's record-breaking fundraising efforts, and the creative design of architect William Russell Everitt, Fairyland opened its gates on September 2, 1950. Word of the whimsical attraction soon spread, due in large part to the efforts of City of Oakland Parks and Recreation information representative Burton Weber, who helped to create publicity through the famed ``Fairyland Personalities'' program for eight- to 10-year-old community representatives. Since then, Fairyland has enchanted countless children and families throughout the nation, and its success has relied on the commitment and ingenuity of generations of volunteers, community leaders, patrons and staff. One of Children's Fairyland's famed visitors was the then unknown, Walt Disney. In fact, it is believed that the park inspired some of the ideas for his world-famous Disneyland Magic Kingdom, which opened in southern California in 1955. In the early 1990s, after falling into some disrepair, Fairyland enjoyed a renaissance when its long-time patrons and supporters in the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club proposed that it become a nonprofit organization. Now, as a 501(c)(3) organization, Children's Fairyland can apply for grant funding to support its upkeep and growth. Part of Fairyland's universal appeal is its simple ability to entertain all types of families, especially the underserved. Through a grant from Alameda County's Every Child Counts, Fairyland currently waives the cost of admission for approximately 4,000 low-income children each year. In a rapidly changing 21st century, Fairyland is a local treasure--a place where both children and adults can find the time and space to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. While it hearkens back to times of pastoral bliss and fanciful characters, it also provides a sense of timelessness and calm in the midst of an urban city. Fairyland's long list of accolades includes being named ``Best of the Bay'' from the San Francisco Chronicle, ``Best Amusement Park'' and ``Best Children's Theater'' from Bay Area Parent, and ``Best Birthday Party'' from Diablo Magazine. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to extend my congratulations on this important milestone. I want to thank all of the many people who have contributed to the continued success of Children's Fairyland. I wish you the very best.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. David Harold Blackwell, world-famous statistician, the first African American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, and the university's first African American tenured faculty member. He was an elegant theoretician, an accomplished scholar and a devoted friend, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and colleague. Dr. Blackwell passed away on Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Berkeley, California, at the age of 91. Born April 24, 1919, David Harold Blackwell was the oldest of Mr. and Mrs. Grover and Mabel Blackwell's four children. During his humble upbringing in Centralia, Illinois, David taught himself to read by studying the labels of supplies at his grandfather's store. In 1935, at the age of 16, he entered the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with plans to become an elementary school teacher. At a time when there were no African American professors, David Blackwell graduated with a B.A. in mathematics and continued at the university, earning a master's degree in 1939, and a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1941, at the age of 22. After being awarded a Rosenwald Fellowship for black scholars and winning a top fellowship to Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study, Dr. Blackwell experienced the first of several career obstacles caused by racial prejudice. Undaunted by unequal treatment at Princeton and a blocked appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Blackwell sent out applications to over a hundred black colleges. He eventually joined the faculty at Howard University in 1944, fast becoming the head of the mathematics department. A lecture in Washington D.C. by Agriculture Department statistician Meyer A. Girshick not only influenced Dr. Blackwell's interest in statistics, but also initiated a close friendship and collaboration between the two colleagues. Their 1954 book, ``The Theory of Games and Statistical Decisions,'' established them as leaders in the burgeoning field of game theory, a mathematical analysis of winning strategies that can be applied to economics, biology, engineering, military strategy, political science and international relations. From 1948 to 1950, Dr. Blackwell used his expertise in game theory as a consultant to the U.S. military and RAND Corporation. His innovative take on established studies in multiple disciplines led to groundbreaking work in the mathematics of multistage decision-making, a textbook on Bayesian statistics, the independent invention of dynamic programming, and the development of the Rao-Blackwell Theorem. In 1955, more than a decade after Dr. Blackwell withstood racial discrimination and the loss of an appointment, he accepted tenure as a UC Berkeley professor. He became Statistics Department Chairman, as well as assistant dean of the College of Letters and Science from 1964 to 1968. A self-described ``teacher,'' Dr. Blackwell mentored 65 Ph.D. students, wrote two books, and published more than 80 papers during his long career. He held 12 honorary degrees, including from Harvard, Yale, Carnegie Mellon and Howard universities. Throughout his life, Dr. Blackwell's worldwide accolades and professional and philanthropic associations became too numerous to count. Though Dr. Blackwell was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 62 years, Ann Madison Blackwell, and four of his eight children, his surviving family members, including 14 grandchildren, are proud to celebrate his remarkable life as they mourn his passing. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Dr. David Harold Blackwell. Named one of the Four American Mathematicians Who Changed the World, we also recognize that he changed countless lives for the better. Our community is indebted to his life's contribution in myriad ways. He was a tremendous role model for the African American community and a compassionate, progressive advocate for peace and equality. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Blackwell's family and his extended group of loved ones. May his soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the 13,500 teachers in California who will get to keep their jobs this fall as result of the education funding we provide today. I rise in support of the over $1.8 billion that will come back to California to help pay for Medicaid assistance for low income people. Without this crucial funding California would be forced into even more painful budget cuts that would have cascaded down to our local cities and counties--forcing layoffs for police, fire, EMT's and other critical personnel. While I support this aid to the states to keep people at work--I am disappointed that the other body would choose to pay for this assistance on the backs of poor people who receive food stamps. I ask for unanimous consent to insert into the Record an August 6 editorial in the New York Times--Congress's Serial Hits on Food Stamps. We spend trillions in support of two wars--funneling hundreds of billions of dollars into a black hole over at the Pentagon--yet we can't find another way to fund a good education for our kids or help States provide healthcare to the poor? Have we lost our moral compass? The Congress continues to throw away our children's inheritance in Afghanistan to pursue the longest war in American history, yet finds it okay to cut food stamps. That doesn't make any sense! We should not have to choose between forcing people to go hungry and our children's education. Madam Speaker, I will vote for this bill because the States are desperate for this money--but the other body should have done better. In addition to these funds we should have been approving money to pay our debt to Black farmers and the Native American community, to fund youth employment programs, and to extend the TANF emergency contingency fund. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I can say with certainty that we will not relent and will fight to get these priorities done. We should not have to choose between forcing people to go hungry and our children's education. [From the New York Times, Aug. 6, 2010] Congress's Serial Hits on Food Stamps With some shabby sleight of hand, Congress has begun tapping into the food stamp program for the hungriest Americans to help pay for lawmakers' higher election-year priorities. The Senate approved two important measures this week--the $26 billion state-aid bill and the $4.5 billion school nutrition program--in part by shaving food stamp funds as a target of least resistance. There is no denying that both of the programs are badly needed. The state aid package, regrettably compromised as it was, helps protect jobs for teachers and other workers facing layoffs. The school nutrition program provides the first improvements in a generation, including an increase in meal reimbursements and the power to set federal nutrition standards for schools. But treating food stamps as the fungible means to worthy ends is a cowardly blight on Congress. After the Bush years of guilt-free tax cutting and deficit budgeting, lawmakers are self-righteously embracing pay-as-you-go legislation lest they be demagogued at the ballot box. So they resort to fiscal triage. Originally, school nutrition was slated to be paid for by cuts in a farm conservation program. But Republicans rated this a high priority for the livestock industry. A deal was struck with Democrats to cut back on the scheduled boost in future food stamp benefits that was part of last year's economic stimulus. Food stamps took a second hit as lawmakers turned to it like an all-purpose A.T.M. to help cover the cost of state aid. Senator Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat of Arkansas who fought hard to get the school nutrition improvements, told Politico.com that the food stamp increase was doomed in any case: ``You saw the teachers grab for it.'' Her comfort was those dollars would feed children. But this is a pale rationalization that downgrades the hunger of entire families. A companion bill in the House, yet to be paid for, is an opportunity to right this wrong. In the crunch of the recession. if Congress lacks the guts to meet vital needs with deficit financing, it should have the decency to chisel some less-humane program than food stamps.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. Madam Speaker, less than a month ago Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that should have really been held 9 years ago. While evidence continues to mount that our military engagement in Afghanistan has become a quagmire of corruption and ill-defined objectives, the bill under consideration will provide, if you can believe this, another $37 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have already cost this Nation more than $1 trillion. Congress cannot continue to write a blank check for a war in Afghanistan that has ultimately made our country less safe. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put in an impossible situation in Afghanistan where there is no military solution. It is time to provide funding for only their safe and orderly withdrawal. No more funding for combat operations. It's a shame and disgrace that we cannot support justice long overdue for black farmers, or youth employment programs, or teachers, firefighters and police officers who need their jobs, or temporary assistance for needed families. The Congressional Black Caucus continues to fight for jobs here in our own country. Let's not spend another dollar to escalate America's longest war. The costs of this war are too enormous in blood and treasure. I urge my colleagues to stand in opposition to a policy of war without end, and vote against this bill, and really begin to look at our priorities and our own country. Yes, we need to help continue to stabilize, actually, regionally, in terms of Afghanistan and the Middle East and the wars that our young men and women have served in so well. But, no, we cannot continue to do it in the way that we have done it. And so I respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote. It's time to change direction in Afghanistan. It's time to vote for jobs in our own country.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 458 on H. Res. 1537. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, and commemorate the signing of the Armistice which brought an end to three years of brutal fighting. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, and the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the fighting on July 27th, 1953. We must reflect not only upon the enduring strength of the U.S.-Korea relationship, but also on the past and present suffering of millions of Korean and Korean-American families caused by the hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. I have long stood against the scourge of pre-emptive and endless war and advocated in support of constructive diplomacy and engagement. The Armistice was only intended as a temporary measure to stop open hostilities until a permanent accord could be reached. It is my sincere hope that, in light of the continuing conflict between North and South Korea, this somber milestone will serve as a call to action in working toward a proactive and peaceful resolution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 60 years is enough.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, less than a month ago, Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that really should have been held 9 years ago, but the fact remains Congress cannot continue to write a blank check for a war in Afghanistan that has ultimately made our country less safe. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put in an impossible situation in Afghanistan where there is no military solution. We should use this money to bring them home. The Congressional Black Caucus included in the previous supplemental that the House passed the black farmer settlement and youth employment provisions, and in the supplemental it was passed several times. It was paid for, yet the Senate took these provisions out. Let's support jobs and justice for the black farmers who have waited so long for our government to act. Let's support our teachers. Let's not spend another dime to escalate America's longest war. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this supplemental that we will be considering later in the day.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Let me thank the gentlelady, Congresswoman Fudge of Ohio, for yielding and also for, once again, anchoring the Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order tonight. We are talking about job creation and how to turn this economy around, and I want to thank her for her consistent leadership and for her really taking so many issues she knows so well and for bringing them to the forefront so that the country can recognize and realize the work that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to do. I thank her for the way she represents her district, which has been hard hit by the economy, by the foreclosure crisis and by all of the issues that we all know so well. So thank you very much, Congresswoman Fudge, for once again, on Monday night, anchoring this Special Order. We are trying to again bring some attention to some of the most pressing issues confronting our country that often don't make headlines. As the chair of the 42-Member-strong Congressional Black Caucus, I rise this evening to continue sounding the alarm about the urgent and vital need to create jobs in America, especially in those communities that have been disproportionately hit, which are suffering the brunt of this economic crisis and which, as a result, are in desperate need of targeted, concrete and meaningful opportunities. The statistics are staggering. While the national unemployment rate is about 9.5 percent, way too high, it is close to 16, 17 percent in the black and Latino communities. For young people, the national average is about 25 percent. Yet for black and Latino youth, it is nearly 40 percent; unacceptable for anyone. For many months now, the Congressional Black Caucus has been and continues to be laser focused on stimulating the economy and creating jobs, especially for the chronically unemployed. We have sought to engage the Obama administration, House and Senate leaderships, committee chairs and our coalition partners to develop a legislative strategy to address the needs of millions of Americans who are struggling in this tough economic environment. During this period, the House of Representatives has passed a series of bills that would move our economy from recession to recovery. However, Senate Republicans have consistently and flagrantly stymied passing similar measures. Just last week, 40 out of 41 Republican Senators voted to block extending unemployment benefits for 1.2 million Americans. Fortunately, there were enough votes in the United States Senate to pass this measure, which was followed the next day by the House of Representatives approving a similar measure once again. But for several weeks, Republican Senators prevented Congress from providing necessary relief for the unemployed. The nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute recently released a report on the economic benefits of unemployment insurance. The report concluded that expanded unemployment benefits have added 1.15 million American jobs since 2007, promoted spending resulting in longer work hours for the employed, and resulted in a 1.7 percent boost in GDP. Economists have pointed to the economic value of unemployment insurance benefits. For every dollar we invest in unemployment insurance, there is a $1.60 return in economic output. But people can't survive forever on unemployment. That is why the goal, of course, is to create jobs, workforce training programs, so that people who don't have the skills for the jobs of the new industries that we are creating these jobs for have the requisite skills and experience to get these jobs. Fortunately, though, during the unemployment debate, we were really able to break the impasse and develop a proposal and extend unemployment so that many Americans now are receiving some relief. But let me just say, Republican Senators continue to block the $1 billion summer jobs program. Now, of course, it's the youth employment program because summer is almost over. These kids need to work for the rest of the year. We have $2.5 billion in emergency assistance for needy families working in the public and private sectors. Also, we want the Senate Republicans to really look at how to fund--and we found the pay- fors for $1 billion--for the National Housing Trust Fund, which will provide communities with funds to build, preserve and rehab rental homes that are affordable for low-income families. I can't tell you how shocked and disappointed I am that so many Republican Senators with high rates of unemployment in their States are blocking legislation that will create jobs. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus went to the Senate several weeks ago to deliver letters laying it out. We wondered if they knew how many people in their States were unemployed, so we broke it down by unemployment rates. We told them where the unemployment rates were in their States, and we tried to convince them that these bills that are in the Senate now, which are languishing, will put their constituents back to work. We weren't sure if they really got that and so we wanted to make sure it was documented. We took it over to them. We don't know if they read the letters or not. We don't know if they really believe it or not, but it's really crucial that the United States Senate act swiftly and pass this legislation. It's appalling that they are opposed to providing jobs for their constituents, for millions of Americans, in these tough economic times. The Congressional Black Caucus continues to fight for summer jobs and employment programs for young people. We want to keep teachers in classrooms. Of course the House passed in the emergency supplemental bill to keep 140,000 teachers in classrooms throughout the country. That still hasn't been voted on in the Senate. We want to increase lending to small businesses. We passed a bill that would make $30 billion, mind you, available to loans for community banks at a 5 percent rate which allows community banks to lend to small minority- owned, women-owned businesses that create jobs. We still can't get any movement in the Senate on that. There are many pieces of good legislation that are really just sitting there. Madam Speaker, it's really shameful. It's really a shame and disgrace. It's hard to even explain why the Senate won't move when there are so many Americans who are hurting and need our help and we can do something and we can do it now. I am urging everyone to call their Senators and to tell them to pass these bills so that we can get America back to work. It's clear that we have a lot of work to do to get the economy revived again. The legislation and many other bills that are sitting over there need to be passed. Of course, this week local officials are here, thank goodness, advocating for the Local Jobs for America Act, the Miller bill, a comprehensive approach to creating jobs which the Congressional Black Caucus has worked on in a big way. Local government investment in transportation, water, sewer, and communications infrastructure provides excellent vehicles and ways to create jobs as well as helping to leverage the private sector by reducing private sector costs and creating opportunities for additional investment. Madam Speaker, as I close, I just want to say thank you again to Congresswoman Fudge and to the Congressional Black Caucus and to all of our colleagues and allies for staying vigilant on this, because it's going to be a hard road ahead of us if we don't figure out now how to create jobs for people who are unemployed. We're talking about opportunities. We're not talking about welfare or public assistance. We're talking about creating jobs. If you don't create jobs in this country, then what are we doing in terms of shattering really the American Dream for millions of Americans? I think every member of the Congressional Black Caucus wants to see every member of our society live the American Dream, and you have to do that by creating jobs.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and musical trailblazer, Bishop Walter L. Hawkins. With his passing on July 11, 2010, at the age of 61, we look to Bishop Hawkins' personal legacy of spiritual service, the joy he inspired, and the outstanding quality of his life's work. A Bay Area native, Walter Hawkins began an unanticipated career in gospel music when, at the age of 19, he sang with the Berkeley-based Ephesians Church of God in Christ's youth choir. The choir, directed by older brother Edwin Hawkins, recorded an album to sell locally as a fundraising effort. It exceeded expectations when the track, ``Oh Happy Day,'' sold over a million copies as an instant pop hit. The Hawkins' enjoyed success as they toured nationally and internationally with the legendary Edwin Hawkins Singers. And in the early 1970s, Walter Hawkins decided to forge another path by entering the ministry. In 1973, Bishop Hawkins founded the Love Center Church in Oakland where he directed the Love Center Choir. The choir's live album, ``Going Up Yonder,'' became one of the decade's highest selling gospel albums and stayed on Billboard's Gospel Top 40 Chart for three consecutive years. The church's ``Love Alive'' series of recordings sold over a million copies from the 1970s through the 1990s, with ``Love Alive IV'' spending an astounding 39 weeks at the top of Billboard's Gospel Chart. Throughout his prolific career of composition, collaboration, directing, producing, recording and performance, Bishop Hawkins earned myriad accolades, including a Grammy Award, eight Grammy nominations, three Dove Awards and Gospel Music's Lifetime Heritage Award. Even with Bishop Hawkins' musical success, he remained committed to his spirit- filled ministry throughout the Bay Area and the nation. In Oakland, Bishop Hawkins' ministry enriched and touched the lives of many residents throughout the 9th Congressional District. The musical component of his teachings inspired both spiritual and artistic communities alike with its profound messages of love and hope. Bishop Hawkins was a spiritual leader, an American icon, a gospel music innovator--and he was also a close friend. It was a great joy for me when Bishop Hawkins accepted my invitation a few years ago to perform at the prayer breakfast during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. We all sat transfixed as Bishop Hawkins moved us by performing old gospel classics. It is a memory that I will forever cherish. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Bishop Walter L. Hawkins. We celebrate his amazing life as we mourn his passing. He was a friend and a great man who will be remembered as one of the most beloved figures in contemporary gospel music. Although we will miss Bishop Hawkins tremendously, his musical genius, his ministry and his abounding spirit will live on with his legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with Bishop Hawkins' brother Edwin, his children, grandchildren, and an extended group of loved ones. It is my hope that they find comfort in their deep and abiding faith during this time of loss. Bishop Hawkins will be deeply missed. May his soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bruce Kern for a long career of public service and leadership on the occasion of his retirement. As Executive Director of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), Mr. Kern led a local public/ private partnership responsible for the retention and attraction of business and the promotion of sustainable development. Native to California and born in the Bay Area, Bruce Kern has enjoyed a multi-faceted career for the State of California as an Economic Analyst, as well as for Alameda County as Director of Research and Planning for its Criminal Justice Planning Board and Director of Planning for the Alameda County Social Services Agency. Between 1982 and 1986, Mr. Kern also lectured part-time on social planning and public policy for the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. As a county employee in 1990, Mr. Kern was assigned with coordinating a County taskforce comprising 14 of its cities and private and nonprofit community leaders in response to the significant impact of military base closures in the region. This taskforce became a committee of the County commissioned by the Mayors' Council of Alameda County, which eventually evolved into the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) and later expanded to include Contra Costa County. Now with a membership of over 700, including leaders in business, local government, education, labor and community service, the East Bay Economic Development Alliance strives to maintain the East Bay as a world-recognized location attracting revenue, business growth and the creation of quality jobs. Under Mr. Kern's vision and leadership, the East Bay EDA has been a driving force for collaborative leadership in the region to strengthen local infrastructure and promote economic prosperity. Additionally, Mr. Kern has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex), the Technology Venture Corporation, the California Association for Local Economic Development (CalEd) and the Alameda County Work Force Investment Board. His many accolades include the 1998 Golden Bear Award from the California Association for Local Economic Development rewarding his vision, drive, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to CALED and the economic development profession. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, Mr. Bruce Kern, we salute you. Thank you for your many contributions to our community, which will continue to influence local business leaders, economic development and working men and women for years to come. I am confident that the East Bay Economic Development Alliance will continue in your legacy of excellence and success. Once again, congratulations on your many achievements. We wish you and your loved ones all the best in this next chapter of life.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for his steady and undying support for people who really have had a very tough time and who have not had any opportunities for many years now. Thank you, Mr. McDermott, for your leadership. Mr. Speaker, I've been listening to the debate here about jobs. We, too, are asking, Where are the jobs? From what I remember, there were very few Republican votes for the many job creation bills which Democrats have passed. So, if you are not going to support a real jobs initiative, I can't understand, for the life of me, why in the world you won't support just the basics for people, just a bit of help for those who have no jobs and for those who you won't help get jobs. Support for unemployment compensation speaks, really, to who we are as a country. This is a moral and an ethical issue of which those who really care about the least of these should support. People have lost their jobs for a variety of reasons--primarily, yes, due to the economic policies of the previous administration. We know many people who have lost their jobs due to their not being able to find work in this new economy. People have lost their jobs because their communities have been shut down as a result of the foreclosure crisis. They have lost their homes. They have lost their jobs. They have no health care. What in the world is going on in our country? Some of us really get it in terms of the economic policies and what we need to do, but until we make the case in a way that Republicans get it, the least we could do is just help people pay their rent and, for those who still have mortgages, help pay their mortgages and, for those who don't have enough food, basically buy food for their kids. We can't even get the Republicans to support a youth jobs initiative. My goodness. You know, we have over 40 percent minority youth--African American and Latino youth--who are unemployed. These young people need jobs. They need jobs not only to develop their work skills and work experience, but they have to help their families put food on the table and pay the rent. So for goodness sakes, just help these people survive and weather these storms right now, because they need something to get through this. Otherwise, we're going to see a country that we all don't want to see, one that we don't recognize, one that does not care about the common good. And this is about the common good. We all have a duty and responsibility to make sure everyone at least is able to survive through these very terrible times.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, yesterday I missed rollcall vote No. 448 on H. Res. 1472, rollcall vote No. 449 on H. Con. Res. 126, and rollcall vote No. 450 on H. Res. 1219. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, yesterday I missed rollcall vote No. 434 on H.R. 4514, rollcall vote No. 435 on H.R. 4438, and rollcall vote No. 436 on H. Res. 4773. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Ms. LEE of California. I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu). (Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. LEE of California. How much time do I have now, Mr. Speaker?