Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank my colleague, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge of Ohio, for leading this Special Order, not only tonight but each and every Monday night, to keep our caucus and the country focused on addressing the key issues which are looming today. She consistently and is constantly on the case, making sure that we speak with one voice on the very, very critical issues which our country and the world are facing. So thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, for your leadership. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I join my colleagues tonight in this very timely discussion of health care and of our efforts. Also, I want to make the case tonight for prevention as a very cost-effective strategy for health care reform. Prevention and, of course, public health should be the cornerstone of any true health care package. Prevention that takes place outside of the doctor's office can be just as important in impacting the health of Americans as health care on the back end when one ends up in an emergency room. Disease prevention is universally popular from coast to coast and across political spectra. Americans understand and appreciate the value of prevention, the value especially for reducing disease rates, for improving the quality of life and for lowering health care costs. Yes, given the rise in deficit, we all are extremely concerned about the costs of health care, but we also must remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For whatever reasons, those experts who are giving us the numbers in terms of the costs don't seem to, for whatever reason, want to tell us how much we will save based on prevention as a key element and strategy in our bill. In a new poll released last month by the Trust for America's Health, Americans actually ranked ``prevention'' as the most important health care reform priority. The poll also found that more than three-quarters of Americans believed the country should invest more in keeping people healthier; and by a ratio of nearly 4-1, they supported putting more emphasis on preventing disease rather than on treating people after they become sick. People are convinced it will save the health care system money, but surprisingly, the poll also found that more than 70 percent of Americans say investing in prevention is worth it even if it doesn't save money, because it will prevent disease and it will save lives. We also know that it will save money. Now, this is not about lecturing people about behavior. Instead, what we want to do is to remove barriers to good health that are beyond the control of most people. One role of government in health care is to provide opportunities to make it easier for people to make healthy choices. Americans are not as healthy as they could be or should be, and this is resulting in skyrocketing health care costs that threaten to bankrupt American businesses. Our workforce is less productive than it could be or it should be as it relates to competing with the rest of the world. Tens of millions of Americans suffer every day from preventable illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer, and infectious diseases which rob them of health and the quality of life that they deserve, and it also drives up health care costs. More than half of Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. Two-thirds of Americans are obese or are overweight, and 20 percent of Americans smoke. Due to the epidemic of obesity, today's children could be the first generation to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents. This is very scary. The Nation's economic future demands that we find ways to reduce health care costs. Helping Americans stay healthier is one of the most effective ways to lower costs and to ensure that our workforce is strong and productive enough to compete in a global economy. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vast majority of chronic diseases could be prevented through life style and environmental changes. For too long, the health care system has focused on treating people after they become sick instead of keeping them healthy in the first place. We need to shift from a sick care system to a health care system. Prevention can improve the quality of lives of Americans, can spare millions from needless suffering and can eliminate billions of dollars of unnecessary health care costs. Research shows that strategic investments in disease prevention programs in communities can result in a big payoff in a short time, reducing health care costs, increasing the productivity of the Nation's workforce and helping people lead healthier lives. Let me just conclude by saying I have to take a moment to commend Congresswoman Donna Christensen and the Congressional Black Caucus' Health Task Force, along with the Congressional Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses' task forces, for their diligent and effective work to ensure that any health care reform bill includes a real public health option and provisions to address the racial and ethnic disparities which we face each and every day. Unfortunately, people of color are disproportionately seen in emergency rooms because they don't have health insurance and can't get preventative care. For example, African Americans are 3\1/2\ times more likely than whites to get an amputation as a result of diabetes. African American men with colon cancer are more than 40 percent more likely than white men with the same condition to receive major diagnostic and treatment procedures too late. So, Mr. Speaker, as we debate health care reform, let's look at the real costs and focus on the billions--and I mean billions--of dollars that we will save if we remember that old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, for your leadership and for giving me a few moments to talk about this very important issue tonight.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me thank the chairman for his well wishes. They come every 6 months now I think, but thank you so much. Let me rise in strong support of H.R. 3170 and just say to the chairman, this is my first year on this subcommittee, but it's an honor to serve with you and such great leaders. I want to thank Chairman Serrano and Ranking Member Emerson for their very hard work on this bill in a bipartisan fashion. You've worked together during very difficult times for our economy and, of course, for this appropriation. This bill begins the work of rebuilding the regulatory and oversight framework of the Federal Government, restoring home rule to the District of Columbia, and safeguarding consumers by reinvigorating the Consumer Products Safety Commission. By investing in the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, the IRS, and other vital agencies, we can bring back a fair and honest marketplace that is safe for consumers and investors alike. We need strong regulators to enforce our Nation's financial regulations. This will ensure the stable operation of our capital markets, help stabilize the economy, and bring an end to this unregulated financial environment during the Bush administration, which has created havoc in the lives of millions. The chairman has also taken great strides in restoring home rule to the residents of the District of Columbia. As Chairman Serrano has said, we were elected to represent our home districts, not elected to represent the District of Columbia, nor are we members of the D.C. City Council. The people of the District of Columbia should have the ability to make the same decisions as other communities and cities which make these decisions for themselves. They should not be subject to the ideological whims of Members who wish to advance personal agendas on the back of D.C. residents. These are Americans. They deserve to be treated fairly--just like we'd want our constituents to be treated. I also want to thank the chairman for clarifying the definition of cash in advance for agricultural and medical equipment payments from Cuba.

Ms. LEE of California. Let me just say that United States companies should be able to benefit from profits and create jobs, which is the bottom line, during this recession as a result of these business opportunities. So this provision is very important for our economic recovery. So I look forward to working with the chairman and the subcommittee to ensure that the Treasury Department prioritizes real terrorist threats to our national security and does not waste vital agency resources--our tax dollars--on Americans who want to travel to the Caribbean.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Eula Tate. A talented and determined leader for civil rights, Ms. Tate left an indelible mark on both Michigan and the District of Columbia. Ms. Tate recently passed away on July 11, 2009. Eula Tate attended Wayne County Community College for two years before transferring to and graduating from the University of Michigan. She began her career as an assembler for Chrysler in 1967 at the Trenton Engine plant in Trenton, Michigan, but quickly realized the harsh injustices within the workforce. Eager to make a real change to help those in her same position, Eula Tate served as a Councilmember for the City of Ypsilanti from 1981 to 1991. She continued her service to her community by going on to serve as Ypsilanti's senior chief executive officer, Mayor Pro-Tem and member of the City's Budget Committee. Passionate about providing young people with the ability to arm themselves with the knowledge and community stewardship she was fortunate enough to obtain, Tate went on to serve as a faculty member at Michigan State University for the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Union Minorities and Women's Leadership Training Project. Realizing that there was much work to be done and wanting to make a difference in the legislation that directly affects Labor Union workers, Eula Tate came to the United Autoworkers Washington office in 1991 and continued her role as Legislative Representative/Lobbyist until her retirement in 2007. All who had the honor of knowing Tate knew that she worked every moment of every day to bring about fairness and justice to Americans across the nation. And she provided a tremendous amount of support and assistance to members of the Congressional Black Caucus. For that we are deeply grateful. On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I would like to thank Eula Tate's family for sharing this wonderful, inspiring, visionary spirit with us, especially her children Jennifer, Stephen, Yomika, Ronald and Donald and a host of other friends and family who were very dear to her heart. Eula Tate's astounding impact and legacy will live on through the countless people who loved her so dearly and, of course, through her remarkable works of service to the Labor Union community and to the state of Michigan. We will deeply miss this drum major for justice. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to put my statement into the Record in support of this very good bill, H.R. 3081, and to especially thank you for working to increase funding for two very important issues: support for the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and also our bilateral tuberculosis program. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3081, the FY10 Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. I would also like to thank Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, and all the staff on the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee of which I am a member for their hard work and dedication in putting this bill together. H.R. 3081 includes many valuable provisions and much-needed resources to extend the United States' arm of diplomacy in the interest of development, progress, and peace. This bill will provide for the hiring of more than 1000 new foreign service officers and approximately 300 new employees at USAID. Rebuilding the capacity of these two departments will transform our ability to put America's ``smart'' power to work, strengthen our national security, and have a dramatic and lasting impact on individuals and communities throughout the world. I especially want to thank the Chairwoman for working with me to increase funding for two issues that I believe are critical--support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and for our bilateral tuberculosis programs. This bill includes $7.8 billion for global health programs, including $5.75 billion for HIV/AIDS initiatives, which for years have been a strong bipartisan priority. These programs continue to save millions of lives while helping us to stop the spread of this devastating global pandemic. I am hopeful in the future we can further increase resources for these programs in order to meet their unprecedented demand. I am also pleased that this legislation provides $450 million to meet President Obama's campaign pledge to double the size of the Peace Corps over several years. As countries throughout the world seek assistance to combat poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental degradation, this commitment to the Peace Corps' mission of peace and friendship through service is particularly timely. Lastly, I am greatly encouraged by the steps taken in this bill, and other appropriations measures, to avoid future reliance on supplemental appropriations that in the past have undermined efforts to obtain an honest accounting of the costs of conflict and war which our efforts in diplomacy and development seek to avoid. I urge my colleagues to support this effort and to support this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. The point I wanted to make is that the Welfare Reform Act prevents anyone, and only those who were formerly convicted of drug felonies, from ever receiving cash assistance and food stamps, even after completing their sentence and overcoming an addiction. So I have worked with the authorizing committee and introduced H.R. 5802, and I wanted to talk to the gentlelady tonight about this very important issue. I hope that sooner or later we can really repeal this ban because it is a barrier for those who have reentered society. They deserve to be able to be eligible for food stamps.

Ms. LEE of California. Let me first thank the gentlelady from Connecticut for her hard work and her dedication to moving our Nation forward in the area of agriculture, nutrition, health safety, and all of the other issues that she tackles each and every day. This bill is going to help millions of Americans, and I am pleased to support it. I rise today to enter into a colloquy to raise the important issue regarding the lifetime ban on food stamp eligibility for formerly incarcerated persons who were convicted of drug offenses. This is really a serious moral and ethical issue of concern to me and many members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Our Constitution provides the appropriate groundwork for this issue in article 1, section 10 in the Fifth Amendment by declaring that individuals are not to be subject to double jeopardy or to be subject to ex post facto laws. After offenders have served their time, Mr. Chairman, the formerly incarcerated reenter society looking to improve themselves and their lives. As a society, this is what we want to support to reduce recidivism and reduce crime; however, the current policy prevents them access to food stamps. Food stamps and cash support are essential to the health and stability of families. Individuals with criminal convictions face considerable barriers, often needing transitional services and support to improve their ability to acquire gainful employment and transition after incarceration. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act prohibits anyone convicted of a drug-related felony from receiving both federally-funded cash assistance----

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Let me thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding and for your leadership and for supporting and managing this resolution today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 127, a resolution which I have authored for several years recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This resolution acknowledges the important contributions of Caribbean-Americans for the many contributions they have made to our Nation's history and culture. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Towns, Ranking Member Issa, and the staff of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on both sides for making this a bipartisan effort and for helping to bring this resolution to the floor today. I would also like to recognize many of my colleagues on this side: Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Congresswoman Waters, Congressman Payne, Chairman Charlie Rangel, Chairman John Conyers, Congressman Burton, and many, many Members of Congress for their tremendous leadership on issues relating to the Caribbean. Congresswoman Christensen, whom you will hear from in just a minute, from the Virgin Islands, has lead health care reform efforts to ensure that any health care reform bill must address strategies that deal with the disparities in communities of color. And for this, Congresswoman Christensen, Dr. Christensen, we are deeply grateful. I'd like to also acknowledge Dr. Claire Nelson and the Institute of Caribbean Studies, and all of the other Caribbean-American organizations in Washington, D.C., and across the country, that have worked so hard to make Caribbean-American Heritage Month 2009 a great success. As a longtime supporter of the Caribbean and a frequent visitor to the region, I am very proud to see us celebrate this important commemorative month for the fourth straight year. Since Congress first passed H. Con. Res. 71 in February of 2006, the President has issued a proclamation recognizing Caribbean-American Heritage Month every year during the month of June. This year, President Obama issued a proclamation on June 2. Mr. Speaker, I will insert that proclamation into the Record. National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, 2009 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation: Caribbean Americans have made lasting contributions to our Nation's culture and history, and the month of June has been set aside to honor their cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and social diversity. Generations of immigrants have preserved the traditions of their homelands, and these traditions have defined our Nation's identity. Caribbean Americans bring a unique and vibrant culture. This multilingual and multiethnic tradition has strengthened our social fabric and enriched the diversity of our Nation. Millions of individuals in the United States have Caribbean roots. Unfortunately some Caribbean Americans were forced to our country as slaves; others arrived of their own volition. All have sought the promise of a brighter tomorrow for themselves and their children. In their pursuit of success, Caribbean Americans exhibit the traits all Americans prize: determination, a devotion to community, and patriotism. They have made their mark in every facet of our society, from art to athletics and science to service. Caribbean Americans have also safeguarded our Nation in the United States Armed Forces. This month we also recognize the critical relationship the United States maintains with Caribbean nations. In a world of increasing communication and connectivity, this friendship has become even more important. We are neighbors, partners, and friends; we share the same aspirations for our children; and we strive for the very same freedoms. Together, we can meet the common challenges we face. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. I urge all Americans to commemorate this month by learning more about the history and culture of Caribbean Americans. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. Barack Obama. People of Caribbean heritage reside in every part of our country. Since 1820, millions of people have immigrated from the Caribbean to the United States. Throughout U.S. history, we have been fortunate to benefit from countless individuals of Caribbean decent who have contributed to American Government, politics, business, arts, education, and culture, including one of my personal mentors, the Honorable Shirley Chisholm from Brooklyn, New York. Shirley Chisholm was a woman of Bajan and Guyanese descent who never forgot her roots in the Caribbean. She was the first African American and the first woman to seriously run a Presidential campaign in 1972. She was also the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives. So personally I have to honor her today because I have to say that my political involvement began as a volunteer during her historic Presidential campaign in 1972, and through her mentorship, she strengthened my interest in issues important to the African diaspora both here in the United States and abroad. During Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we recognized the important contributions of people like Shirley Chisholm as well as Alexander Hamilton, Hazel Scott, Sidney Poitier, Wyclef Jean, Eric Holder, Colin Powell, Harry Belafonte, Celia Cruz and, yes, Congresswomen Donna Christensen, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Yvette Clarke and many other persons of Caribbean descent who have helped shape this country. Caribbean-American Heritage Month provides us an opportunity to strengthen our long-term partnerships with nations of the Caribbean community through greater dialogue and engagement, and must not stop with June. From disaster preparedness to trade and energy, education, and the campaign against HIV and AIDS, we share a number of mutual policy interests with our Caribbean neighbors. Last month we were able to address some of these important issues through the Institute of Caribbean Studies' Caribbean-American Legislative Forum, held annually on the Hill during Caribbean-American Heritage Month. At the forum, people from the academic community and the private sector, regional policymakers and members of the Caribbean diaspora were able to meet to better integrate policy interests between the United States and Caribbean countries. Recent global events, from the sharp rise in food and energy prices to a series of devastating storms and the global economic downturn, have acutely affected people of the Caribbean, particularly our friends in Haiti. These ongoing regional and global crises highlight the need for continuing engagement and involvement with innovative policy solutions with our neighbors. I'm very pleased to see the Obama administration's recent announcement of increased foreign assistance to Haiti and the President's participation in the Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad. These are all signs of this administration's fresh and new engagement with the region. Caribbean-American Heritage Month also reminds us of the large and diverse constituencies of Caribbean- Americans in our Nation and provided us with an opportunity to send a message of good will to the Caribbean community both here and abroad. This month also provided us with an opportunity to share in the rich culture of our natives through showcases of Caribbean art, festivals, concerts and films. In my own district in Oakland, California, the Caribbean-American Heritage Association of Northern California celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the people of the Caribbean through a musical concert and family picnic. The association also hosted its Third Annual Caribbean-American Heritage Legacy Awards ceremony, honoring the contributions of Caribbean-Americans to our great country. Just as we should commemorate the achievements of the many diverse communities that make up this great country, the United States Government should continue to celebrate the rich history and diversity of Caribbean-Americans and work each and every day to ensure that the issues of concern to Caribbean-Americans and the nations of the Caribbean are included in our policy debates here in the Congress. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure to honor and salute the Caribbean-American community and to acknowledge their rich and varied contributions to the history, culture and progress of the United States.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. I want to thank the Chair for yielding and also for your leadership. You and Mr. Markey, everyone has done a phenomenal job on this bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 2454, which really does send a clear and unequivocal message that polluting our planet, our communities, and our livelihood no longer comes without a cost. This bill will create millions of high-paying, career-term green jobs that represent a much- needed pathway out of poverty for millions of individuals across this country, and I am pleased to see the inclusion of much-needed funding for the Green Jobs Act. I must also be clear in saying that in America we should do more to address the climate crisis than provided for in this bill, but this is an unbelievable first start. I believe we can produce more renewable electricity and achieve more aggressive emission reductions over time. I also recognize that passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act is a major, major bold critical first step toward achieving our goal of realizing a greener future. As a person of faith, and as a long-time advocate for safeguarding our environment for future generations, Mr. Chairman, Madam Speaker, I think it's our moral and our ethical imperative and our responsibility to support this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. President Obama, in commenting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act earlier this week, cited that this legislation ``will open the door to a better future for this nation.'' I strongly agree with President Obama, but I must also stress our responsibility to ensure all individuals will be provided the opportunity to participate in the new green economy. That is why I offered the Lee Amendment to this legislation, which would have authorized legislation I have introduced in the House entitled the Metro Economies Green Act, or MEGA, in order to establish targeted grant programs to support green economic development, job training and creation. Inclusion of the Lee Amendment to H.R. 2454 would have provided valuable opportunities for those who can benefit from good paying green collar jobs the most--urban youth of color, the unemployed, and those among our neighbors who have just faced incredible hardships in life. Unfortunately the Lee Amendment was not made in order. However, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the future to expand access to high-paying, career-term green jobs that represent a much needed pathway out of poverty for millions of individuals across this country.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. I rise in strong support of this amendment. Let me commend my colleague from Massachusetts for his consistent and his bold leadership. This amendment does not call for the redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces out of Afghanistan. It does not call for an end of the funding requested by the administration for military operations. It does not tie the hands of the President, commanders in the field, or our troops on the ground. And it does not provide aid or comfort to those who would harm us or wish us ill. Instead, this will provide a vital contingency plan for withdrawing United States military forces from Afghanistan. Mr. Chairman, most recognize that there is no military solution to the quagmire in Afghanistan. I remain convinced that the United States must develop an exit strategy in Afghanistan before further committing the United States' limited resources and military personnel deeper into Afghanistan in pursuit of an objective that may be unattainable, unrealistic, or too costly. Unfortunately, we're digging ourselves deeper in a hole. In 2001, I voted against the authorization to use force because I feared that given a blank check to wage war, I really worried that this would be for an unspecified period of time, really for an unspecified mission. This blank check continues today. My worst fears have been realized. And so what Mr. McGovern is doing makes a lot of sense. We need an exit strategy for Afghanistan now. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. Otherwise, this blank check is going to continue. This does not enhance the national security of the United States of America. The longer we're there, the worse things get for our troops. Our troops deserve to be able to know at least what our plans are, what they're going to entail, and when in fact they will come out of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan deserve to know this. I commend our President for trying to develop a new direction in our policy, but I have to tell you, putting more troops in harm's way is not going to help us begin to develop an exit strategy out. So, thank you, Mr. McGovern, and thank all of the cosponsors for making sure that we have at least an opportunity to say: No more blank checks.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Let me thank both gentlemen for their support and for understanding the necessity really for this congressionally directed spending, Federal funding, better known as an earmark to some. Let me just say that I do rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona and in support of the request for funding that was made by the city of Emeryville in my district for funding through FEMA's Predisaster Mitigation Program. Let me just start by saying that I respect the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake). We have worked together in the past on many issues related to lifting the embargo on Cuba and normalizing relations with that country and on many, many issues. But I believe he is wrong about the funding I requested in the Homeland Security Appropriations for the city of Emeryville's Community Emergency Safety Facilities Project. The city of Emeryville is in my district. It has a dense population of nearly 10,000 residents and a 1.2 square-mile region. Although much smaller in size than the neighboring city of San Francisco, this small city has become a leader in interagency cooperation and for the new economy innovation. On behalf of the city of Emeryville--now, this was the only request that I made--I requested $600,000 to help finance the seismic retrofitting of the city's principal, and this is the only, emergency community gathering and housing facility in the event of a natural disaster. It's the Emery Unified High School gymnasium. The city has requested these funds to finance 15 percent of the initial cost for phase one of the project for ``seismic planning and development,'' which in total would cost about $4 million. The balance of the funding will come from redevelopment funds directly from the city of Emeryville and also an anticipated local bond between $40 million and $75 million that will also direct some funds to the project. The remainder of the necessary capital, which is expected to finish this project, will come from State, local, and Federal sources, including school facilities funding, competitive State bond programs, and Federal development or infrastructure grants. Several years ago an evaluation of the Emery Secondary School gymnasium was conducted based on FEMA's criteria for structurally sound facilities and came to the following conclusion: without seismic strengthening of the buildings, they could experience high levels of localized structural and nonstructural damage in a moderate or large earthquake sufficient to pose unacceptable high levels of risk to the life safety of the buildings' occupants. The Hayward Fault, which runs through Emeryville and the two neighboring cities of Berkeley and Oakland, is considered one of the most dangerous earthquake faults in the world. Scientists agree that the Hayward Fault could soon experience a large earthquake with an impact on many densely populated cities throughout the bay area. The Hayward Fault has ruptured about every 140 years for its previous five large earthquakes, and this past October marked the 140th anniversary of the 1868 earthquake, which was approximated to be a magnitude of about 7. The recent earthquake disasters around the world highlight the need for the highest level of structural safety in our schools and emergency facilities. This is the only request and I'm just asking that we support this, Madam Chairman. I would certainly support any disaster mitigation efforts for Mr. Flake's district should a disaster hit his district. I would also support funding to alleviate that.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I opposed the 2001 resolution authorizing the use of force because I believed it gave President Bush and any future President a blank check to wage war anywhere on the globe, starting in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, we will be unable to avoid such ill-fated actions in the future until we repeal the 2001 authorization. Today, nearly eight years later, I oppose the supplemental appropriations bill for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq because it continues us down the path of open-ended military escalation that can lead to war without end. I oppose this $94 billion supplemental because: It favors military activities over diplomatic, development, and reconstruction efforts by a ratio of 8 to 1; It does not include an exit plan for Afghanistan; It does not require the fully funded redeployment of troops and military contractors out of Iraq within 12 months; and It does not include the strong regional approach the situation demands including a strong nuclear non-proliferation effort in Pakistan. Madam Speaker, it is time we maximize our nation's ``smart power'' by increasing our use of diplomatic, development, and reconstruction activities. Unfortunately, the supplemental appropriations bill does not reflect a fundamental shift in direction. Therefore, I cannot support it.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today recognizing June as National Caribbean American Heritage month and to acknowledge the important contributions Caribbean-Americans have made to our Nation's history. Let me begin by thanking Congresswoman Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands for anchoring tonight's CBC hour honoring Caribbean American Heritage Month. I want to also thank Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters for their tremendous leadership on Caribbean Issues. I would like to acknowledge The Institute for Caribbean Studies and all the other Caribbean-American organizations that worked to make Caribbean-American Heritage Month a great success. As a long time supporter of the Caribbean and a frequent visitor to the region, I was very proud to see us celebrate this important commemorative month for the third year. Since the resolution's initial passage by Congress in 2006, the President has issued a proclamation recognizing Caribbean-American Heritage Month in June 2006, 2007, and 2008. People of Caribbean heritage reside in every part of our country. Since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean region to the United States. Throughout U.S. history we have been fortunate to benefit from countless individuals of Caribbean descent, who have contributed to American government, politics, business, arts, education, and culture-- including one of my personal heros, the Honorable Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Shirley Chisholm was a woman of Ba-jan and Guyanese descent, who never forgot her roots in the Caribbean. She was the first African American woman elected to Congress and the first woman to run for President. My political involvement began as a volunteer during her historic presidential campaign in 1972. Through her mentorship, she strengthened my interest in addressing issues of importance to the African Diaspora both here in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to Shirley Chisholm, during Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we also recognize people like Alexander Hamilton, Hazel Scott, Sidney Poitier, Wyclef Jean, Eric Holder, Colin Powell, Harry Belafonte, Celia Cruz, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and many others who helped shape this country. Caribbean-American Heritage Month also provided an opportunity for us to strengthen our long-term partnership with CARICOM nations through greater dialogue and engagement. From disaster preparedness, education, and the campaign against HIV/AIDS and other health disparities, we share a number of mutual policy interests with our Caribbean neighbors. For example, last year we were able to address these important issues regarding the Caribbean, through the Institute for Caribbean Studies' Caribbean-American Legislative Forum held on the Hill. In addition, the Caribbean People International Collective Inc (CPIC) held a roundtable discussion on health in the immigrant community. This event promoted the goals and ideals of National Caribbean-American HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day (NCAHAAD). Most recently, last year's global rise in food costs keenly affected the people of the Caribbean, particularly our friends in Haiti. The crisis highlighted the need for reengagement and opened the door for innovative policy solutions. Last year, CARICOM Heads of State held their New York Conference on the Caribbean under the theme ``A 20/20 Vision'', where they met with regional policy makers, the academic community, private sectors and financial institutions, as well as members of the Caribbean Diaspora to better integrate policy interests between the U.S. and the Caribbean. National Caribbean American Heritage month promotes the importance of recognizing that our policies in the Caribbean affect us in the United States. Caribbean-American Heritage Month reminded us of the large and diverse constituencies of Caribbean-Americans in our nation and provided an opportunity to send a message of good will to the Caribbean community both here and abroad. Caribbean American Heritage Month also provided an opportunity to celebrate and share in the rich culture of our Caribbean neighbors, through showcases of Caribbean art, festivals, concerts, and film. Just as we commemorate the achievements of the many diverse communities in our nation, the United States Government should encourage all people to celebrate the rich history and diversity of Caribbean Americans. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the Caribbean- American community, and acknowledge their service to our society.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker; I rise in strong support of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I want to thank Chairman Waxman and his staff, and Senator Kennedy for their tireless work over the years to ensure that we could get to this moment. The federal regulation of tobacco has been a long time coming. I'm pleased that today's action will complete consideration of this bill and send it on to the President to finally get it enacted into law. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is the leading cause of premature death in the United States. More than one in five Americans smoke, and according to the CDC's most recent report, in 2004 this included about 21 percent of adults and more than 22 percent of high school students. Each year about 1 in 5 deaths, about 443,000 people, are a result of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. And for each person who dies from a smoking related disease about 20 more are living with a smoking attributable chronic illness--or about 8.6 million people. In addition to the significant effects of smoking on the health of our constituents, the estimated costs of smoking-related medical expenses and loss of productivity exceed $167 billion annually. Thankfully, in my state of California we have known the dangers of smoking for a long time, and we were one of the first states to move forward in banning indoor smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. As a result our State has the second lowest prevalence level of smoking among both adults and youth, at 14.8 percent and 13.2 percent respectively. It is long past time that we try to take a national approach to address the dangers of smoking. I'm pleased that this bipartisan legislation will grant the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the advertising, marketing, and manufacturing of tobacco products. And I'm also pleased that it takes steps to ban flavor additives, including menthol, as well as further restricting marketing directed to our children. But passage of this bill really is just the first step. We've also got to make sure that we follow through on the regulatory authority provided in this bill to help encourage smokers to quit, and to provide help to those who choose to do so. However I'm pleased that we are finally taking this action today, and I'm convinced that it will help to improve public health and reduce costs to our health care system in the long run. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank Rep. Ellison for holding this special order tonight as Congress works to break away from business-as-usual with regards to our nation's energy future. I would also like to thank the Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Representatives Woolsey and Grijalva, for your leadership and your tireless efforts to promote proper stewardship of our communities by protecting the environment. It is so important that we continue to call for action on these issues surrounding global warming and the continued degradation of our environment that is perpetuated by our dependence on fossil fuels. As I have said time and time again--there is no denying the interconnection between our stewardship of the environment and the state of the economy, public health, and our communities. The drastic acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions has often been concentrated in low-income and minority communities, putting these vulnerable populations on the ``front lines'' of the fight against environmental degradation and global climate change. Simply put, climate change has, and will continue to exacerbate the problem of poverty and inequality, and none of us can afford to take this lightly. The health of our community and our neighbors affects all of us. Let me take a moment to reflect upon the urgent need to finally put a price on carbon emissions and make polluters pay for the pollution they produce. As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I look forward to working with my colleagues here in Congress to pass responsible and comprehensive climate legislation that will establish a price for carbon emissions and spur the development of clean, renewable energy and the deployment of much-needed energy efficient technologies. Legislation which sets us on the path toward energy independence and a new, low-carbon economy will help to maintain the United States position as a leader in innovation while at the same time creating hundreds of thousands of good paying green jobs. The biggest misconception out there today regarding our environment is that the public isn't engaged, or willing to transition to a sustainable, environmentally-friendly economy. In reality, the shift to a low-carbon economy represents an economic opportunity for individuals across this country. One of the most exciting and inclusive solutions to the many issues facing environmental health is the possibility afforded to us by promoting Green Jobs Training and the growth of the Green Economy in America. To that end, I have reintroduced legislation entitled the Metro Economies Green Act, or MEGA, H.R. 330, which establishes grant programs to encourage energy-efficient economic development and green job training and creation. This legislation would also create a national institute to serve as a clearinghouse for best practices information in order to facilitate the successful expansion of the green jobs movement on a national scale. As the Representative of California's 9th Congressional District, I would also like to take a moment to recognize the role that California's East Bay is playing at the forefront of the Green Jobs and Green Industry movement. We have a number of innovative initiatives in my district in particular, including the East Bay Green Corridor Initiative, the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, the Joint Bio Energy Institute, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Energy Biosciences Institute at Berkeley. I recently visited the site of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps with Special Advisor to President Obama on Energy and Climate Change, Carol Browner, in order to show her a truly groundbreaking example of green- collar workforce development already up and running in Oakland, CA. The Oakland Green Job Corps is a partnership of community organizations, trade unions, private companies, and the City of Oakland. It provides Oakland residents with the necessary training, support, and work experience to independently pursue careers in the new energy economy. The fact is, ``Green'' has already become the fifth largest industry in the nation--80 percent of venture capital investments in 2008 were in the clean energy and energy efficiency sector. Between 1998 and 2007, job growth in the clean-energy economy outperformed total job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia, and we are just beginning to tap into our nation's clean energy potential. Passing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, especially one which includes a robust Renewable Energy Standard, is essential to delivering cleaner energy and good-paying jobs to communities across the nation. A strong Renewable Energy Standard will spur innovation and the expansion of economic opportunities surrounding the green movement. The current draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act sets America on a path to meet 20 percent of our electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020. This is an important start, but I am also confident we can do more. It is the time to think big, not small, and I urge my colleagues to consider strengthening this standard so that we might take full advantage of the enormous renewable energy potential across this country. This is only one of many important priorities we must address in order to ensure no communities are left behind in the transition to a low-carbon economy. There is no doubt in my mind that a greener future will lead to a more prosperous future for our communities, the Nation, and the world. I urge my colleagues to act swiftly to move America beyond its dependency on oil, address the climate crisis, and help protect America's natural resources for our children's future.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Let me just say that as a supporter of nonproliferation efforts all of my life, I am very pleased and want to thank Chairman Berman for working with myself and other members of the committee to address the concerns regarding the potential expansion of Pakistan's nuclear program. I wanted to make sure that the possible fungibility of these funds was not a factor. In President Obama's bold and brilliant speech in Cairo last week, he strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nation holds nuclear weapons. So we wanted to make sure that that was the case here with Pakistan in this bill and that we minimized any type of fungibility of funds.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the chairman for his very effective work on this bill and for your leadership and for really bringing this forward to the committee so that all of us could have an opportunity to weigh in, and talk about, and amend, and include many of the provisions that we believe allowed us to come to this floor today to support this bill. I believe, like many believe, that addressing Pakistan, rather than an escalation of the war in Afghanistan, is a much more effective way to address terrorism and our national security. I'm greatly encouraged by the goals of this legislation, which aims to put United States ``smart power'' to work, which many of us have been talking about for many years. The smart power. This helps to reshape our relationship with Pakistan based on a long-term commitment to social, economic and political development. The legislation integrates key benchmarks and limitations absent in previous aid packages which resulted in really $10 billion in United States aid since 2001, yielding little or no results or progress on many fronts in Pakistan. So you can imagine why some of us initially were very skeptical of this. This legislation also seeks to reshape the U.S.-Pakistan relationship by shifting unconditional United States military assistance away from this historical trend of exclusively unconditional military assistance. I want to make that point very clear. This is not unconditional. This is conditional. And it also provides a two-to-one ratio in terms of the development assistance, economic assistance, social and democratic priorities, which we all believe we should support. Simply put, this bill really reflects the sentiments shared by many of my colleagues, that the national security of our Nation hinges upon much more than military might. Instead, it hinges upon the success of diplomatic and development efforts around the globe.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, let me first say thank you to the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution, and I rise in strong support of it. The Congressional Black Caucus extends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer Stephen Johns. He was an American hero. He was an African American. He was slain in this senseless act of violence at the Holocaust museum, which preserves the memory of a period in the world, a period borne of violence, of hatred, of death, a period that must not be forgotten. The death of Officer Johns reminds us, however, that racism and anti- Semitism in all its ugly forms must be condemned and fought at every, every turn. We extend to Mr. Johns' family our deepest sympathy as you mourn the loss of your loved one. He will be a hero in all of our minds who we will remember and who will remind us of the unfinished business of our country. We offer our condolences and our assistance to the family, should the family need us during this time of need.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chair, I want to be clear that I agree with the fundamental principle that every nation, including Israel, has the right to defend itself against an imminent military threat. Unfortunately, this amendment goes far, far beyond that bedrock principle. Nearly 8 years ago, I stood on this House floor and confronted a very similar issue. On that day, September 14, 2001, I voted against the authorization of use of United States force against Afghanistan because it granted the US a blank check to wage war any place and any time against any enemy. It went far beyond any authority granted for international war making. Today this amendment raises the same issue and I am compelled to draw the same conclusion. I was unable to support US government broad blank check power, in good conscience I am not able to support that type of excessive authority for any other nation.

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for yielding. Let me just rise to oppose this amendment and just very briefly say why. Every country has a right under international law and under their own laws to defend their own sovereignty, their own country, to protect their country from attacks. Israel certainly has that right already, and it should exercise that right. We all recognize the security of Israel in terms of its being essential in any foreign policy that we develop as it relates to a peace process that is really so critical to the security of Israel. I just have to say, with regard to this amendment, however, I am very reluctant to support it, and I'll just say why very briefly. If you will remember, right after the horrific attacks of 9/11, we passed a resolution that I opposed, and I opposed it for many, many reasons, one of which was that the resolution was, in essence, a blank check to use force against any nation that harbored--and this is in this language here--terrorist organizations. I'll tell you that I believe that that casts a blank check once again in terms of allowing for an attack against any country. It could be Pakistan or any country which harbors terrorists, terrorists who may or may not be responsible for any unfortunate attacks. So, for those reasons, I think this amendment is not necessary. Israel and other countries have a right and should defend themselves from any threat from Iran, from terrorist organizations or from any country. As to any country that harbors terrorists or those who want to do harm to Israel, to me, this provides for an opening, which, unfortunately, I did not believe was correct for our own country nor do I believe we should give that authority, or that rubber stamp, to any country to allow for an attack. It's just a broad blank check. For those reasons, I oppose this.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act and want to thank our Chairman for his outstanding leadership and work on this major legislation. In the words of President Obama, ``America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity,'' and this legislation rightfully commits the resources necessary to uphold that promise. I want to just take a moment to highlight a couple of provisions that we worked to have included in this bill: First, I want to thank Chairman Berman for including the United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Program from legislation I introduced which previously passed the House in the 110th Congress, the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act. This valuable initiative will promote better understanding of U.S. values and culture by offering scholarships to Caribbean students to pursue studies in the United States. Second, I am pleased this legislation includes reporting language I offered regarding the enduring and horrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Improving the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza is essential to fostering conditions necessary for stability, economic and social development, and lasting peace. Finally, on the heels of President Obama's brilliant speech in Cairo, I want to take a moment to underscore the importance of supporting the President, Special Envoy Mitchell and Secretary Clinton as they bring renewed focus and energy toward advancing a two state solution that will bring lasting peace. And that includes supporting Israel's right to exist and the call for an end of the continued Israeli settlements. Again, I want to thank the gentleman for the time and encourage support for this important bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 505. Like the vast majority of people throughout our nation, I was appalled by the unconscionable act of violence that took the life of Dr. Tiller at his place of worship. I offer my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and many friends of Dr. Tiller. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they struggle with this tremendous loss. Dr. Tiller was a medical pioneer who, for two decades, worked to provide the highest quality of care to his patients. Despite encountering constant harassment and threats Dr. Tiller remained committed to providing abortion services and other reproductive care to women and their families. Often times, Dr. Tiller provided these services to women during the most challenging and heart-wrenching of circumstances. The shooting death of Dr. Tiller is an affront to all physicians who provide abortion and reproductive care to women; it's also an affront to a woman's right to choose. Moreover his death was an affront to our nation's rich religious and democratic traditions. No matter which side you may stand on in regards to protecting a woman's right to choose, we can and should all agree that violence has no place in our political discourse. I thank my colleague Ms. Slaughter for authoring this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. If the gentlelady will further yield for a moment, please, let me talk about very quickly one of the aspects of job creation and the issue as it relates to pay equity for women. As I remember, the numbers are really staggering when you look at women. They make I think it is maybe 70-some cents on the dollar; African American women a lot less, maybe 60-some cents on the dollar; and Latinas even less than that. I think it is very important as we talk about jobs and job creation, we have to really first applaud the President for signing the Lilly Ledbetter Act, and, secondly, in each and every initiative that we take here in the House, make sure that we look at the bills in terms of the type of equity and justice it brings to women, because women have a long way to go in our society. We have made tremendous gains, but when you look at these moral gaps in terms of wages, we have to understand that we do need to take, and some don't want to say affirmative action, but I consider affirmative action a very Democratic policy, and so we do need to take affirmative action to make sure that these disparities in wages as they relate to women are closed and closed very quickly as we create these new jobs in the industries of the future.

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, the gentlelady from Ohio, for continuing to, as I say, beat the drum every Monday night on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, on behalf of many of our communities, which have been really shut out and marginalized for years and years and years but also on behalf of the American people because we know and we recognize, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, that what's good for our communities, especially communities of color, the African American community, makes America stronger. It's good for the country. So thank you very much for continuing to lift our voices on behalf of the people. Tonight you've done a great job talking about really the reason and the rationale that we have to embrace workforce development training, job training. Because so many of our constituents are not only recently unemployed, but they just haven't been employed for many, many years, for many, many historic reasons, many of which are systemic. The opportunities just have not been there. As I was listening to you, I was reminded of the new green industry. It's a trillion-dollar industry, but of course there are many in our country who don't have the requisite skills to be able to even apply for these jobs in this new industry. I want to just call attention to one organization in my district, in Oakland California, the Oakland Green Job Corps, where young people are learning green technology, are learning to weatherize homes, are learning to put solar panels on roofs. They are learning and developing the skills necessary to be able to be fully employed in this new industry, and these are young people who may not have had a chance, had it not been for the Cyprus Mandela Training Center, Mayor Ron Dellums, our city of Oakland, and of course the Department of Labor and all of the partners who have helped put that together. Our energy czar from the White House, Ms. Browner came out, and she looked at the Green Job Corps, and we are hoping that this will be seen as a model to replicate throughout the country. Let me just remind you that the Congressional Black Caucus has historically been known as the conscience of the Congress, and we recognize that the dignity of all human beings is extremely important in our work to close these--some of us call it these moral gaps that exist, these disparities. And tonight of course we're talking about jobs, employment and unemployment. Well, the good-paying jobs recognize the dignity of all human beings; and when people are unemployed, when they don't have jobs, it's very difficult to take care of their families, take care of themselves. As a person who majored in psychiatric social work, I understand all the psychological effects. We just see that each and every day now, the emotional trauma, the depression. Suicide rates are soaring now as a result of this Bush recession. So we have to remember that when people are unemployed, it's not only that they don't have a job to make money; but it's their self-esteem, their self-worth, it's their dignity that becomes shattered as a result of this, and so we have to work very hard each and every day to make sure that we provide the vehicles and the opportunities for everyone in our country to get a job. The trigger may have been, of course, the bubble in the housing markets in terms of the unemployment rate; but I tell you, these excesses on Wall Street and the failure of the Bush administration to enforce any securities laws, the deregulation of the financial services industry--and I was on the Financial Services Committee for 8 years, and we kept talking about that with Chairman Greenspan, and there were very few who really wanted to bite the bullet and say, we have to not do this. But we did, unfortunately. So now we have an industry that's just run wild, really. It's run amok. We also have to remember that there was very little oversight of the banks, and this unfortunate situation has spread this crisis to each and every household and business in our country. We've seen 7 million jobs lost since the beginning of the Bush recession, and the unemployment rate has now risen to 9.4 percent nationally--14.9 percent, however, for African Americans and for Latinos. Now during the Bush administration, 5 million more people fell into poverty. Unfortunately now we have 37 million Americans living in poverty, 47 million with no health insurance, and that is rising. So we have to tackle this because if we don't tackle this, we will have millions more living in poverty. Actually, last week the Congressional Black Caucus released our agenda as well as our biannual report, and we call it Opportunities for All--Pathways Out of Poverty. All members of the CBC put one of their bills on this agenda. We have 42 bills, and if you look at each and every one of the pieces of legislation that is pending that we consider our priority legislation, each one provides a pathway out of poverty and an opportunity for all. We also, unfortunately, in the last few years have watched company after company cut their benefits, and millions more Americans now, as I said earlier, have lost their health insurance and their retirement plans and pension plans have fallen, unfortunately, off the table. The last administration has left us and our Nation in shambles, and it is really critical that we come together to begin the work of providing opportunities for all in America and ending this spiral of poverty that is spiraling downward, unfortunately, with millions more people in this situation. We have got to expand and extend the proven anti-poverty programs that were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, like expanding access to the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. We have to maintain support for the vital extensions of unemployment insurance and COBRA health insurance. Millions of Americans need these subsidies, while millions of Americans continue to face job loss and extended periods of unemployment. These are stopgap measures, but this has to be seen as necessary just to stop the hemorrhaging and give people some relief so they can survive and sustain themselves until the jobs that we are working so hard to create are created. We have got to maintain support for and invest in education and job training programs, as Congresswoman Fudge talked about earlier, and fully support initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which our colleague Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who chairs the Housing and Opportunity Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee, worked so hard with the Congressional Black Caucus' support to bring some stability to our hardest-hit communities. But we all know we have to do more. We need to raise and index the minimum wage so that every working person can be assured that they will earn a wage that will lift them up and out of poverty each and every year without having to rely on legislation to keep up with increases in the cost of living. Yes, we increased the minimum wage several years ago; but I believe, like many of my colleagues believe, that we must support and find ways to provide for a living wage. Raising the minimum wage is not enough. We also must ensure access to early childhood education, guarantee a quality public education for every American student, and make sure that every working family has access to affordable, quality child care. Again, why is child care so important? Well, we have millions of women, millions of single moms and single men who want to work, but they can't afford the child care. So we cannot look at creating jobs without understanding we must provide for the job training and child care assistance so that they can really afford to get a job and will not have to worry about their young people. Also, and oftentimes we forget this, there are millions of men now that we call in my community ``formerly incarcerated individuals'' who have been released from jail. We know that the recidivism rate is very high, and part of the reason is because there is very little employment for these individuals. So we have to provide support for our reentry initiatives. I am very proud of the fact that Congressman Danny Davis, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus from Illinois, continues to work on behalf of those who would not have this second chance. We passed the Second Chance Act a couple of years ago, but we must fully fund this so that we can provide for that job training and those jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Also our disconnected youth. We have young people who need jobs. Many families now, because of the fact that mothers and fathers are unemployed, oftentimes young people have to help, and they deserve to be able to get a job too. So we have to fully fund and support summer job programs for our young people, which I am very proud of the fact that President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and all of our leadership here, our majority whip, Mr. Clyburn, supported with the economic recovery package to make sure we have funding in there for our summer jobs program for youth. Also access to health care. Some of us believe, and I know many of us in the Congressional Black Caucus believe, that health care should not be a privilege. It is a basic right. It is a basic right, and as we begin health care debate, again we cannot forget that closing health care disparities in communities of color must be part of any health care reform package. Otherwise, those communities, those individuals who have historically been discriminated against in our health care system, and really that is what has happened over the years, it has been discrimination, they deserve to have some of these gaps closed. So this has to be part of, again, a comprehensive approach to job creation and employment. So let me just conclude by saying that during this economic crisis, we think that we have to see this also as an opportunity to make the changes that we seek, some of the systemic changes that we seek, to guarantee access to health care, to guarantee and ensure fair and adequate housing for all, and to provide top-flight education for all of our children and support the growth of the new green living wage economy that will carry America into the 21st century. We have to support the Employee Free Choice Act, because many of us in the African American community know if it hadn't been for labor unions, many of our families would not have become middle income. So the right to organize, the right to participate and to be in a union is essential, because when we are talking about jobs, we are not just talking about a job; but we are talking about a job with justice, jobs with good pay, with benefits, with a pension, with health care, the type of a job that any American deserves. So this Employee Free Choice Act is an extremely important part of any jobs movement that we have developed here in the Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus continues to be the conscience of the Congress, and we are going to continue to speak out and work with those who don't have a voice, who have been marginalized, and who could possibly be left behind were it not for members of the Congressional Black Caucus who stand strong, 42 of us, in moving forward an agenda, opportunities for all, pathways out of poverty. Let me thank Congresswoman Marcia Fudge again for stepping up to the plate and for bringing this very critical debate once again on a Monday night to the country.