Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. First let me thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding and also for your leadership. Let me give just a bit of history. We have been for many years now holding these special orders to make sure that the country understood what the priorities are of the Congressional Black Caucus, which, of course, we believe will make America live up to its creed of liberty and justice for all. As a result of that, the late beloved Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones chaired these special orders every week for us to sound the alarm, to beat the drum, to make sure the country knew the work of the Congressional Black Caucus. I want to thank the gentlelady from Ohio for continuing this tradition. This is truly historical. She is such a great leader, not only in her home State, but throughout the country. This is her first night chairing this, and we look forward to continuing the legacy of those who came before us to make sure that the agenda of the Congressional Black Caucus is put forth center front so that the country can know exactly the work of this great and august body. This is Black History Month. It began in 1926 as Negro History Week out of Dr. Carter G. Woodson's frustrations over the lack of black history in history books. For 83 years, the contributions of African Americans have been recognized and celebrated each February. It comes as no surprise that this year Black History Month is especially significant with the inauguration of Barack Obama as our Nation's 44th President. Forty years ago, the Congressional Black Caucus was founded with a simple yet a very profound goal, and I would like to read you what the founding statement said. Part of the statement said, ``To positively influence the course of events pertinent to African Americans and others of similar experience and situation and to achieve greater equity for persons of African descent in the design and content of domestic and international programs and service.'' Black History Month is a time to celebrate the legacy of so many of our heroes and our sheroes whose stories sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. For more than 400 years, and despite tremendous hardships, African Americans have made significant contributions to the economic, educational, political, artistic, literary, religious, scientific and technological work in the United States. In the words of the old Negro spiritual, we have come this far by faith: Faith in the divine justice of a merciful God; faith in the ideals proclaimed to the world in the Declaration of Independence by the founders; and faith in the capacity of Americans of all creeds, races and religions to devote their lives to making America freer, stronger, better, more equal and more just. Earlier this month, the Congressional Black Caucus, led by the Honorable Danny Davis from Illinois, held a Black History Month program to honor and celebrate the legacy of a truly courageous group of trailblazers, the 22 black lawmakers who served in the House and the Senate in the two decades after the Civil War. Every African American Member of Congress today and tomorrow will forever owe them a debt of gratitude. We must all pay tribute to this group, because they symbolized more than the Union's victory over the Confederate and the eradication of the institution of slavery. These men, eight of whom had been held as human chattel, represented the embodiment of hope. Hope not only that the shackles of slavery could be broken, but hope that America was indeed capable of fulfilling the principles of liberty, equality and justice for all who called this land home. ``Place all citizens upon one broad platform,'' declared Representative Richard Cain of South Carolina, who served two non- consecutive terms during the 1870s. He said, ``All we ask of this country,'' right here on this floor, ``is to put no barriers between us, to lay no stumbling blocks in our way; to give us freedom to accomplish our destiny.'' That was in the 1870s. Of course, part of that destiny, as I said earlier, was fulfilled on Tuesday, November 4, when this Nation elected Barack Obama President of the United States. We all know too well that electoral victories, however, can be fleeting if they are not coupled with a sustained commitment day in and day out to protect and empower all Americans. Despite the bravery and efforts of this early vanguard of black lawmakers, for most African Americans the strides made during the reconstruction period gave way to an era of Jim Crow, which many of us remember and experienced. And black lives in many of the lands that once were represented here on Capitol Hill by African Americans, and elsewhere in our country, were routinely lynched and subjected to second-class citizenship. Yet I am certain that we all know the true possibilities of this great country, and we know what we believe in can be achieved. And we owe this in no small measure due to what I like to call this original Congressional Black Caucus, those 22 Members, then moving forward to the 13 Members who founded the Congressional Black Caucus 40 years ago. And, yes, still today, the Congressional Black Caucus of 42 members of Congress, continues to be the conscience of the Congress and will continue, will continue, to work day and night to make this a more perfect Union. Thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, for leading us tonight and for leading us through the next couple of years with these special orders. Thank you for allowing me to speak for a few minutes tonight.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and applaud our Speaker and President Obama and our leadership for a fair and balanced bill. The disastrous economic policies of the previous administration, including the irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy, the war in Iraq and a regulated financial services industry, have left our Nation in shambles. Many more people, millions more, are living in poverty, without health insurance, and unemployment is through the roof. Recognizing this urgency, I established the Congressional Black Caucus Economic Recovery Task Force, chaired by Congressman Cleaver, to help guide our response to the economic crisis. Historically, the role of the Congressional Black Caucus has been to act as the conscience of the Congress and ensure that no American is left behind. This is our moral responsibility. That was our overriding goal with this bill, as we sought to create more jobs for more people. This package will help working families by expanding food stamps, unemployment insurance, and health coverage for the uninsured, and investing in education and job training, infrastructure, foreclosure relief, and assistance. It's not perfect. It should have been much, much bigger, but it's a critical first step. It reflects our values as a Nation. Although the American dream has turned into a nightmare for many during this economic crisis, many people, many people have been living this nightmare for years. So we've got to continue to fight on their behalf, and we will. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mr. Ralph Grant. An Oakland icon, loving father, husband, friend, and compassionate soul, he will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Ralph passed away on February 2, 2009. Ralph was my accountant but, more importantly, he was my friend; he was my brother. Like many, I could totally trust him with my private business and I benefitted from his ``tough love.'' As his client, he gave me solid advice on my personal matters. My former company, the W.C. Parish Co., Inc., survived many ups and downs thanks to Ralph's genius, his patience and his wise counsel. Mr. Grant was a graduate of McClymonds High School in Oakland, CA. His educational experiences included earning both his Bachelor of Arts (Accounting) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from San Francisco State University, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree from Golden Gate University. Mr. Grant's professional accomplishments are extremely impressive and span the areas of law, accounting, taxation, investment banking, real estate, and professorship. Mr. Grant was a J.D. as well as a CPA. He founded Grant & Smith, LLP, a certified public accounting and management-consulting firm, located in Oakland, California which has serviced the San Francisco Bay Area for over thirty years. Prior to establishing Grant & Smith, LLP, Mr. Grant's professional experiences included five years as an Internal Revenue Service Agent with the United States Treasury Department, and three years as an instructor in taxation and small business management at San Francisco State University. He was also a real estate broker, an officer of RVS Realty & Mortgage Corporation, and a member of RVS Investment Advisors of California, LLC, a registered investment advisory firm. Mr. Grant was licensed with the California State Bar, the California State Board of Accountancy, the Supreme Court of the State of California, the United States Tax Court, California Department of Insurance, and the California Department of Real Estate. Mr. Grant also passed the Series 7 and 66 examinations. Mr. Grant's organizational affiliations included memberships with the National Association of Black Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants and Charles Houston Bar Association. Mr. Grant was elected to and served as the 2004-2005 Western Region Representative and San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Director for the National Association of Black Accountants Division of Firms. With all of these professional accomplishments, Mr. Grant's deep commitment to the community was unparalleled. Mr. Grant was a philanthropist who cared deeply about youth and education. He regularly provided volunteer services as a board member to entrepreneurial and youth focused not-for profit organizations such as the Marcus Foster Educational Institute, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Eddie Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund, Donald McCullum Youth Court and the Oakland Private Industry Council. With all of these activities, one of Mr. Grant's favorite pursuits was coaching in the Oakland Metropolitan Babe Ruth Baseball League, and he often joked that this occupied his ``spare time.'' Several years ago I had the opportunity to work with Ralph to take the team to Cuba. My official duties prevented me from going, but Ralph and I enjoyed many conversations about his experience in Cuba. He was truly a Renaissance man who had dreams and worked to make them come true. Ralph showed us how to live life to its fullest and he showed us how to die with dignity and with grace. For that we are deeply grateful. Although we will miss him in our daily lives, his spirit will be kept alive by embracing his mantle of service, mentorship, strength, commitment and compassion. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes Ralph Grant, honoring his incredible life and inspiring legacy. We thank his family for sharing this amazing human being with us, especially his wife, Gloria Grant, his two children, Casey Grant and Kimberley Henderson, his son-in-law Lee Henderson, and a host of additional family members and friends. May the Grace of God reassure his family that his soul is resting in eternal peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Taken together, this bill will help put our Nation back on the right track. But frankly, I think--and many of us think--it could and should have been much bigger, at least $1 trillion, but we're working together to try to reach some type of consensus so that we can move forward in a bipartisan fashion. It should have been enacted, I think, a year ago, when some of us first called for a new stimulus package to jump-start our economy. Instead, the previous administration just refused to take action, letting our economy collapse before choosing to bail out their friends. So let's move this bill forward. Let's move this bill forward for Main Street.

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you for yielding. And let me just say I, today, rise in support of the rule and also, of course, the bill. First let me just say the economic policies of the previous administration we all recognize has left our Nation in shambles. The huge tax cuts for the wealthy, the war in Iraq--$10 billion a month-- and the greed in this unregulatory environment of the previous administration has brought us to this point. And so I think it's incumbent upon the Republicans, especially, in this body to work together to try to help this country dig itself out of what has transpired in the last 8 years. Today, more people are living in poverty, more people are living without health insurance, and more people are unemployed than they were 8 years ago, and it's only getting worse. That's why the bill we're debating today is so important. I applaud President Obama and Speaker Pelosi, our leadership, Majority Whip Clyburn and Chairman Obey, for crafting this robust economic stimulus package and their efforts to ensure bipartisanship in this. I'm pleased that it includes funding for a number of important initiatives that many of us have fought for, including extended unemployment benefits, expanding the food stamp program, and providing increased Medicaid funding to the States to help people just get through this crisis. It also funds a range of transportation and infrastructure projects to rebuild our roads, modernize our schools, rehab our housing stock and prevent foreclosures. It creates jobs. It puts our Nation's path to recovery in a very strong position by including $4 billion in job training, including $500 million in green jobs and $1.2 billion in youth training programs. I'm pleased that State and local governments will be able to tap into the $2.7 billion of these job training funds to fund innovative programs to provide reemployment services, job training, summer jobs, and year-round employment for youth.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of 384, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Reform and Accountability Act of 2009. Although I ended up supporting the bill establishing TARP last October, I was under no illusions about whether a bailout of the financial services industry would actually work to prevent an economic collapse. Even though we had included a number of critical improvements in the bill to ensure accountability and transparency and protect the economic security of all individuals, not just corporations on Wall Street, the intent of Congress was ultimately ignored by the Bush administration. As a result the TARP program as administered by President Bush has failed to stem the tide of foreclosures and has failed to track or explain how $350 billion of taxpayer money has been spent to date. That is why we are here today. The bill that Chairman Frank has developed would completely revamp the TARP program to ensure that funds are spent responsibly and transparently to help stabilize our economy and get credit flowing again. Most importantly, it would take significant steps to help Americans stay in their homes and ensure the continued availability of affordable housing. By passing this significant overhaul of the TARP program combined and with the commitment of President Obama to properly administer the program according to the standards articulated in this bill, we can help millions of individuals keep their homes while providing liquidity to credit markets and accountability to taxpayers. I want to thank Chairman Frank for his work on this bill, and for agreeing to accept an amendment that Congresswoman Waters, Congressman Meeks, and I offered to ensure that minorities and women-owned business are included in the contracting activity and use of TARP funds. I also want to thank and acknowledge the work of both my colleagues in crafting this important amendment. Among several objectives, the amendment that we offered would require: (1) The Secretary of the Treasury to establish an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion; (2) Each institution that receives TARP funds to develop and implement standards and procedures to ensure the inclusion and utilization of minorities and women-owned businesses in all business and activities, at all levels, including procurement, insurance, and all types of contracts; and (3) A detailed report to Congress by the Treasury Department describing the actions taken by the Office and each assisted institution to ensure the participation of minority and women owned business in all contracts related to the use of TARP funds, including a statement of the total amounts paid to third party contractors and the percentage of such amounts paid to minority and women-owned businesses. In making sure that minority businesses and woman-owned business are included as part of TARP activity, we are providing a level playing field for these businesses to compete and take part in the business activities of the Federal government. So I want to again thank Chairman Frank for accepting the amendment. In conclusion, although I believe that the Bush administration mishandled the TARP program, I believe we must act to provide President Obama and his economic team with the opportunity to utilize the remaining money to ensure that we keep homeowners in their homes. That is why I will vote in favor of this legislation.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill. I want to thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Pallone and all the staff for their work in ensuring that this bill moves forward as one of our highest priorities in the 111th Congress. Today we will take the long overdue step to expand health insurance coverage to over 11 million children throughout the country. As our Nation remains mired in the depths of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the action we take now could not be more important or more necessary. The fact is that the economic policies of the outgoing administration have left our Nation in worse shape than we were 8 years ago. Today, more people are living in poverty, more people are living without health insurance, and more people are unemployed than they were 8 years ago. As always, it is the most vulnerable, the children, who suffer the greatest during tough economic times like these. Passage of the SCHIP legislation today will at least help to make life a little easier for 4 million more children who will receive health coverage under this expanded program. Although I strongly support this legislation, I believe it can still be improved, most immediately by removing the citizenship verification requirements that remain in this bill. Ultimately we must move our Nation towards a universal health care system to cover all children and all Americans. Nonetheless this bill is an important step forward. Madam Speaker, the Nation's children have waited far too long for this moment. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and accomplishments of Mr. Hal Ellis, Jr. Mr. Ellis contributed immeasurably to the development and economic growth of the 9th Congressional District. He was a devoted community leader, creative and innovative entrepreneur, and a great source of support and encouragement to those who knew him. Our community said goodbye to Hal on January 6, 2009, after a courageous five-year battle with metastatic melanoma. Hal Ellis was born on August 4, 1931 to Harold and Bertha Ellis in Portland, Oregon. However, his family moved to Oakland, California just two years later in 1933. For this reason, and as a result of the endless dedication and compassion Mr. Ellis exhibited for the Oakland community throughout his life, everyone considered Hal a native ``Oaklander.'' Hal graduated from Piedmont High School in 1949 and received a Bachelors Degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley in 1953. He was a member of the legendary 1951 and 1952 Cal Bears football teams under the leadership of Coach Pappy Waldorf, affectionately known as ``Pappy's Boys.'' While at Cal, Mr. Ellis also served as President of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1955, Mr. Ellis graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and then went on to serve his country for two years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer stationed in Morocco. Mr. Ellis was ambitious and driven from a very young age. In 1958, at the age of 27, Mr. Ellis co-founded Grubb & Ellis Co. along with his business partners Don and John Grubb. Mr. Ellis guided the company as its Chairman and CEO, bringing others up with him as he led the company through countless successful ventures. In the following decades, Mr. Ellis would become one of the most prolific and iconic real estate developers in the Greater Bay Area. Mr. Ellis directly oversaw the growth of his company from a small Oakland development firm into a national diversified real estate company. Most influential to the lives of residents in my district, the work that Mr. Ellis' company performed and the vision Mr. Ellis had for the architectural and urban integrity of our area dramatically reshaped downtown Oakland, California. Nationally, his company would grow to such influence that it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Ellis' keen business sense and tireless dedication elevated his company to the prominent position as the largest independently owned, publicly traded real estate firm in the United States. Today, the company boasts 130 offices world-wide. Sixteen years ago, Mr. Ellis co-founded Ellis Partners LLC with his daughter, Melinda and his son, James. Ellis Partners LLC has, in its own right, become one of California's largest commercial developers and investors. Hal also formed Catalist Homes, which reflected his vision for the future of the residential real estate industry by creating a model of technical intelligence and efficiency. Although Mr. Ellis' influence and impact was truly phenomenal in scope, his true contribution was the indelible imprint he left on the landscape of Oakland, California. His efforts led to the development of the Oakland City Center and Oakland's Jack London Square. Both of these developments have been and are critical to the vibrancy of a diverse and complex urban area whose residents deserve the opportunity afforded by a healthy local economy where small businesses can thrive. Mr. Ellis was extremely involved in his community and professional organizations. He was an excited and inspiring individual, always ready to share his vision for the future and work on creative collaborations to bring innovation and growth to the development industry. Hal was a member of the Pacific Union Club, the Claremont Country Club, the World Presidents Organization and several additional real estate industry organizations. A gentleman with endless optimism and strength, even Mr. Ellis' illness produced in him a sense of urgency to make a difference and advocate on behalf of others suffering from this devastating form of cancer. With the support and partnership of his family members, the University of California, San Francisco and Bain & Company, Mr. Ellis led the efforts to form the Melanoma Therapeutics Foundation. In the hopes of expediting the discovery of a cure for this disease, his family continues to remain involved and encourage support of this important organization in memory of Mr. Ellis. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, I would like to thank Hal Ellis' family for sharing this wonderful spirit with us, especially his loving wife of 22 years, Marian Ellis, his sister, Jackie Ellis Leisz, his sons Stephen and James Ellis, his daughters Melinda Ellis Evers, Chantal Lamberto, and Jackie Lamberto, his daughters-in-law Karen and Melissa, sons-in-law Will and Eli, and of course his beloved grandchildren, Katherine, Audrey, Elizabeth, Ryan, Tyler, Gracie, Morgan, and Braydon. Mr. Ellis' legacy will live on through his devoted family and a host of loving friends. May his soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 43, which recognizes the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promotes the holiday as a day of national service. Fifteen years ago, the enactment of the King Holiday and Service Act officially designated Martin Luther King Day as a national day of volunteer service. Each year since, millions of Americans across the country, and thousands in my congressional district, have been inspired to serve their neighbors and communities every third Monday of January. This is an impressive achievement but it is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest figures in world history. Dr. King dedicated and, ultimately, sacrificed his life to serve others, especially ``the least of these.'' As he famously observed, ``Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.'' Mr. Speaker, at this defining moment in history our country faces enormous challenges and given the enormity of unmet needs, every contribution--big and small--matters. All across our land, there are children and adults to educate; seniors to care for; hungry persons to feed; jobless to train and employ; the environment to protect; and justice to pursue. In short, there is much unfinished work to be done. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and thousands of other nonprofit, community, national service, and education organizations across the country for encouraging Americans to serve their communities this holiday and throughout the year. I urge all Americans to honor Dr. King by making the holiday in his honor a ``day on,'' not a day off. Dr. King could always be found serving others. So should we.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act. I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for introducing it, a champion for women and working families. And I also want to thank President-elect Obama for urging us to pass this important bill. In 1963, women working full-time made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. For every dollar men earn today, women earn 78 cents. Over the last 45 years the wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year. Clearly, we still have a long way to go. The wage gap is most severe for women of color. It is absolutely inexcusable that women and especially minority women earn a fraction of what men earn for the same job. African-American women earn just 63 cents on the dollar and Latina women earn far worse at 52 cents. In my own State of California, Black women earn only 61 percent, and Latina women only 42 percent, of the wages of White men. That is outrageous. The wage disparity begins at the start of a woman's work life and grows wider as women age. In the long term, this pattern of substantially lower lifetime earnings affects the quality of life for women and their families. It limits their opportunities for promotion, and contributes to decreased savings, pension income, and Social Security benefits. The result is that quite simply, many women are at risk of falling into poverty as they get older. H.R. 12 takes immediate steps to close the wage gap for all women by amending and strengthening the Equal Pay Act, EPA, of 1963, so that it will be a more effective tool in combating gender-based pay discrimination.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support of the right of Israel to exist and to defend itself and to condemn unequivocally the rocket attacks launched by Hamas on Israel. I believe there can be no military solution to this conflict, only a political solution reached by the parties assisted by the United States acting as an honest broker. Seldom do I vote present but I will in this case. Let me explain why. First, the resolution ought to make it clear that the only way to remove the threat to Israel, and to the larger region, is to resolve these issues through an immediate cease-fire and commit the United States to high-level and sustained diplomacy in support of the Road Map and initiatives. This resolution does not address how to end the escalating violence. Second, the resolution should offer concrete steps to be taken immediately to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The resolution is silent on this point. The bottom line is there is absolutely no military resolution to the issues confronting this region--notwithstanding the acts of self- defense to which Israel has resorted. That is why I renew my call for the administration to redouble its efforts in discharging its indispensable role as honest broker in the peace process needed to realize the two-state solution and secure Israel's right to peaceful co-existence and the right of the Palestinians to live in dignity.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mrs. Madeline DeLoach Franklin. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and compassionate soul, Madeline will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Madeline passed away on December 21, 2008, at the age of 94, less than 1 month short of her 95th birthday. Born on January 17, 1914, Madeline had a long and fascinating life. She not only witnessed the most transformative periods in our Nation's history, she actively participated in them. Madeline Franklin was a vanguard of the pre-civil rights era and an inspiring political mother to many activists from the civil rights movement up until the present. Madeline was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents, William and Dora C. DeLoach, moved the family from New Orleans to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during World War I. In Philadelphia, Mr. and Mrs. DeLoach founded St. Philip's Lutheran Church and raised their children in the spirit of community service. Growing up during the first decades of the 20th century, Madeline shared a simple and happy childhood with her nine older siblings. It was during this time that Madeline developed her strong social values, faith in God, and belief in the necessity of justice and human dignity for all people. She would carry these values with her and teach them to those fortunate enough to know her for over 70 years. After graduating from the prestigious Philadelphia Girls High School, Madeline returned to New Orleans to attend Dillard University, where she pledged as a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She graduated in 1939, and by that time had already fulfilled one of her dreams by becoming an accomplished pianist. Madeline was living in Pass Christian, Mississippi, and it was during this period that she decided to formally pursue a career in education and become politically active in the most important efforts of her time--actions that would serve as the precursors to the civil rights movement in America. Even before Rosa Parks' famous refusal to give up her bus seat to make room for White passengers in 1955, Madeline DeLoach was refusing to sit on wheel covers or wait for the next bus to come in the 1930s in Jackson, Mississippi. During that same period she met her future husband, Dr. Charles L. Franklin, who was living in New York after graduating from Columbia University in 1936 at the age of 25. At that time, Dr. Franklin was one of the youngest PhDs in the country, and the only African-American with a doctorate degree in his field. A specialist in social legislation, labor economics, and statistics, Dr. Franklin was an energetic intellectual at the forefront in the struggle for employment integration in the Federal government. On his own merit he received the highest average of all of the competitors in the New York State Civil Service Examination, bringing mass attention to the issue of inequality. Madeline and Charles were wed on May 24, 1943. Although not related by blood, Madeline was part of my extended family who I loved dearly. She was a wise woman who inspired me and supported me in all of my efforts. For that, I am deeply grateful. Madeline was an incredibly intelligent, sophisticated, and talented individual. She was an African-American woman born in the American south at the turn of the century, a teenager and young woman of the Great Depression, an adult of the pre-civil rights era, and a mentor of the civil rights movement. Undoubtedly, Madeline faced every conceivable challenge of her generation, gender, and as a person of color. However, not only did Madeline survive these difficult and tumultuous times, she triumphed and brought countless others up behind her. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes Madeline DeLoach Franklin, honoring her incredible life and inspiring legacy. We thank her family for sharing this amazing spirit with us, especially her three children, Charles L. Franklin, Jr., Dolores Mercedes Franklin, and Estelle Diane Franklin, her grandchildren, Sharath Smith and Michelle Franklin, Lynnette Franklin and Charles Franklin, her great-grandchildren Brian and David Smith, her daughter-in-law Alexis M. Herman, her grandsons-in-law Jeffrey Smith and Christian Duffus, and a host of additional family members and friends. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and contributions of Henry Chang, Jr. An energetic public servant and advocate in the Greater Bay Area, Henry will retire this year from his elected position on the Oakland City Council. Mr. Chang has tirelessly served the community of Oakland, California as a councilmember-at-large for 14 years, serving as the city's vice mayor for 4 terms. Mr. Chang is sincerely committed to his community, and has employed his diverse life experiences and studies to improving the quality of life for his constituents and to adding greatly to the collective efforts of policy-makers, stake holders, and public advocates in my district. Henry was born on December 17, 1934 in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China. During the Japanese invasion of Shantou City, Henry and his siblings were separated from their parents for 4 years. In 1950 he moved to Sydney, Australia to study at Knox College. At that time, Mr. Chang was one of only two foreign students at his college. In 1952, Henry again made a bold move to further his education and opportunities, traveling to the United States in the hopes of attending the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. In 1960, while attending UC Berkeley, Mr. Chang met and married Constance Poon. He graduated in 1961 from the School of Environmental Design at Berkeley. Mr. Chang worked for both the Novelli Engineering Company in Downtown Oakland and the Hugh M. O'Neil Company as an architect before founding his own architectural practice, Henry Chang, Jr. and Associates, Incorporated in 1971. Mr. Chang established his firm in the heart of Oakland's Chinatown District and immediately began using his skills to contribute to the vibrant business community and innovative urban planning needs of that area. During this time, Mr. Chang began a long and impressive career of service. He has served in countless capacities on local and regional commissions and boards including founding member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, several State and city anti-crime commissions, the Oakland Cultural Art Committee, the Lincoln Square Advisory Council, the Oakland Chinese Businessmen Association, serving as that board's president for 2 terms, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, the Oakland Port Commission, the S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the Oakland Community Development Commission, and the Oakland City Planning Commission. He was also a founding member of the Friends of Parks and Recreation Board. So great were Mr. Chang's contributions to Oakland, the city named September 27, 1990 ``Henry Chang, Jr. Appreciation Day.'' In more recent years, Mr. Chang has served on the executive board of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Alameda and Oakland Base Re-Use Commissions, the Alameda County Transportation Authority, and the A.C. Transit Major Investment Steering Committee. On December 6, 1994 Mr. Chang was elected to the councilmember-at- large seat he has been continuously reelected to until his retirement this year. As a councilmember-at-large, Mr. Chang has sponsored important city legislation and has always been proactive in bringing stakeholders, community leaders, and residents of our area together to work on the complex issues facing the diverse and dynamic city of Oakland and its neighboring cities in Alameda County. Just one example of Mr. Chang's tireless advocacy and thorough approach to policy making is his comprehensive legislation addressing the serious issue of gun control. Henry has authored bills to ban junk guns and ultra compact guns from being sold in Oakland as well as legislation requiring trigger locks on all guns sold. He also sponsored a tax on guns and ammunition sold in Oakland to offset the high cost of violence caused by guns. These laws became regional models for urban safety and firearms regulation. While on the city council Mr. Chang also initiated the City Management Academy which trains neighborhood activists so that they can better understand how the city works and established the Citizens' Assistance Center to help residents get the assistance they need from their city officials and agencies. Perhaps most memorable of Mr. Chang's achievements as a councilmember-at-large is his work to bring giant pandas to the city of Oakland on loan from the China Zoological Garden of the Ministry of Construction and to build a state-of-the-art facility for their care while in the United States. I have had the privilege to travel with Henry to China and Cuba. He has a deep sense of respect for people throughout the world and uses his diplomatic skills to bring good will to our Nation. I am proud to call Henry my colleague and my friend. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional district, I would like to salute the honorable Henry Chang, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement from public office. It is clear that his dedication, innovation and involvement in the accomplishments of the city of Oakland will not end here. I wish him all the greatest happiness in his retirement years and thank him for a lifetime of service to our community.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and accomplishments of one of our nation's greatest trailblazers. The renowned journalist and activist for truth in media, Nancy Hicks Maynard, passed away on September 21, 2008 at the age of 61. Her vivacious and extraordinary presence will be greatly missed, however her life's work has ensured that future generations will continue to benefit from her courageous impact indefinitely. A news pioneer and the first African-American woman to own a major daily newspaper in America, Nancy Hicks Maynard was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her incredible journalism career began in 1966 when, outraged by inaccurate and destructive reporting on her neighborhood, Nancy broke onto the scene as a reporter for the New York Post at the age of 20. From there she went on to work at the New York Times. At that time she was the Times' youngest staff reporter. However, that did not prevent Nancy from covering the hottest issues. From the Apollo space missions to African-American student takeovers at Columbia and Cornell universities, and the mid-sixties urban rebellions, Nancy was on the ground working nonstop to ensure that these stories were reaching the public not only through an objective lens, but from the viewpoint of a young person of color--something shamefully nonexistent in the media at that time. In 1975 she married Robert C. Maynard, who wrote for the Washington Post and was already a news giant in his own right. At that time in our nation's history, Nancy and Robert were among the best and most accomplished of the fewer than 50 black journalists who held significant roles in the newspaper, radio and television journalism industries. However, rising up within a damaged and biased system was not enough for the Maynards. Not content with their own personal accomplishments, they both believed that their greatest civic duty was to level the playing field and bring others up behind them. Two years later, they both resigned from their lucrative posts to pursue their shared fundamental ideals. This included, demanding a higher standard of ethics and accountability in journalism and promoting equal opportunity for people of color in the media industry. They moved to the West Coast to pursue what was right and just and to establish a non-profit dedicated to training minority reporters and pressing newsrooms to ``reflect the diversity of thought, lifestyle and heritage in our culture.'' In Berkeley, California, Nancy and Robert joined with eight other co- founders and launched the year-round Institute for Journalism Education--the first of its kind in this field. In 1983, the couple purchased the financially struggling Oakland Tribune from the Gannett Company. For nearly a decade, the Maynards co- published the daily paper. It was at the Oakland Tribune that their vision of diversity in staffing and coverage took physical form and set an example for the conservative, overwhelmingly white newsroom managers they had been trying to reach out to for so many years. The Maynards sold the Tribune in 1992 and Robert passed away a few months afterward. During the ten years of their proprietorship, the company contributed approximately $300 million in payroll revenue alone to the city of Oakland and its residents. Nancy was the child of an African-American jazz musician and a Caucasian mother. Through her personal and professional experiences, she understood the need for the most talented and committed minds in journalism to work together to break down racial barriers and report the truth back to the community. She carried this rich heritage and strong sense of purpose with her throughout her life. In 1998, the National Association of Black Journalists awarded her its annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes Nancy Hicks Maynard and honors her legacy. We thank her family for sharing this amazing spirit with us, especially her partner, Jay T. Harris, her mother, Eve Keller, her sister, Barbara Guest, her brother, Al Hall, her sons, David and Alex, and her daughter, Dori. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Congressman Pete Stark, to honor the extraordinary life accomplishments of the Reverend Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. He is a leader, teacher, spiritual guide, and inspiration to all who know him. Pastor Smith will be retiring this year from his position as Senior Pastor at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California. Pastor Smith has led this church and our community for 40 years. In that time he has positively influenced countless lives and left an indelible mark. It is without doubt that his legacy will continue to inspire people and promote the strong ideals and unwavering humanity Pastor Smith has always stood for. Throughout his life and tenure as Senior Pastor, Dr. Smith championed the causes of the poor and the disenfranchised. Through his many publications, interviews, and sermons, Dr. Smith reminded us everyday of our human obligation and the standards of dignity, charity, and common love that we must all live by. In the Greater Bay Area, he also spearheaded groundbreaking programs to reach out to those most in need and assist them in their struggles. He is an individual who never failed to practice what he preached, and who has used his own life as an example with grace, humility, and an unsurpassable kindness and empathy for others. The ministries and message of Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. has made an impact locally, nationally, and internationally. From testifying before the United Nations in New York City in 1989 against the apartheid government in South Africa to securing affordable housing for seniors, he has dedicated his career to promoting peace and equality. His work has inspired and uplifted people from all faiths and backgrounds to dedicate their lives to this same noble pursuit. This is Dr. Smith's true gift to us all--the gift of positive influence. He has inspired our leaders and our children to carry on the difficult fight for justice in a way that is both compassionate and relentless. Through the many programs for youth that he has created and supported, Dr. Smith has invested himself fully in the education of the next generations. By doing this, he has created irreplaceable opportunities which would not have existed for these children without him. By remaining personally involved in their experiences and progress, he has empowered them to believe in the importance of their own efforts and to commit themselves to carrying others up behind him, as he has done for so many years. Dr. Smith has shown our community that we can live our lives with eloquence, devotion, and with a deep respect for all of God's children. In Pastor Smith's retirement years, it is certain that he and his brilliant and beautiful wife, the Reverend Bernestine Farley-Smith, will continue to contribute to our society immensely and spread the benefits of their many collective years of experience by serving their community, enjoying their family, and most importantly walking and talking with God. Today, the residents of California's 9th and 13th Congressional Districts join with the members of Allen Temple Baptist Church, its community allies, fellow congregations, and Pastor Smith's loving family to celebrate his years of service and wish him a most happy and fruitful retirement. Our sincere gratitude goes out to Dr. Smith's three sons, two daughters, fourteen grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren for sharing this visionary leader and wonderful human being with us. We are all better people for having had the blessing of this man's friendship and guidance. May he and his wife rejoice and enjoy their time together for many happy years to come.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time and for his tireless work. I want to thank Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., for associating himself with my remarks this morning. Madam Speaker, I think we need to be honest about the bill before us. It is a bailout. We should be honest with how we got here: reckless deregulation policies and greed. We should be honest about the fact that we don't know that this is the appropriate economic strategy. Some economists say yes; some economists say no. But I must be honest about the fact that I can't afford to risk the consequences of inaction based on what I know today. I spoke with our California treasurer this week, and he assured me that people will suffer greater pain, including cuts to critical State- funded social services, county services, and schools, if we don't do something to stop this hemorrhaging. That is why I will vote for this bill today. As a former small business owner, I know access to credit will make or break your business. Without it, people will lose jobs. We will not magically turn the economy around, reverse the rise in unemployment, or end this recession which we are in now. We must be honest about that. But I must err on the side of caution so our seniors can have some confidence that their pensions are safe. And I hope that we will be able to prevent this financial crisis from exacting an even bigger toll on the everyday lives of our constituents. Congressman Jackson and I will continue to fight for regulatory reform and a direct economic stimulus package that we fought to be included in this bill. We must have bankruptcy reform and a moratorium on foreclosures. But I am glad to say that our fight has helped slow this bill down. Thanks to our Speaker's leadership, we have a bill today to extend unemployment compensation insurance on the floor. That is the least we can do for those in need on Main Street. I urge the other body to take it up immediately. As Senator Obama said, there will be a time to punish those who set this fire, but now is the moment for us to come together and put the fire out. Congressman Jackson and I join him in that effort and we will vote for this flawed but necessary legislation. It is a very difficult vote for both of us, but I must do everything I can to stop this bleeding in the lives of people living from paycheck to paycheck, that is if they have a paycheck. I am really confident that this is the right vote, but I know that it is not the popular vote. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to thank Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her leadership in trying to make some sense out of this foreclosure mess. Hopefully we will stop the bleeding, but I know that we have a lot of work to do.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank Chairman Frank for your efforts to improve this administration's $700 billion blank check bill. Madam Speaker, as a former member of the House Financial Services Committee for 8 years, I can tell you that the situation that we find ourselves in today is the direct result of the deregulation-happy, turn-a-blind-eye approach of this administration and its allies in Congress. Now we see the horrific price of these reckless deregulation policies. More than 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. People need jobs to obtain credit, to pay their rent, to pay their house notes, to buy a 401(k) or to really have a retirement account. Millions of people are living paycheck to paycheck if they really have a paycheck. Home foreclosures are skyrocketing; home values are plunging; banks are failing, and we are still spending more than $10 billion every month on a war in Iraq that did not have to be waged. So I'm convinced that this bailout is not the solution to this mess. It does little to address the underlying problem--the foreclosure crisis. We need a moratorium on foreclosures, and we need bankruptcy reform to help people stay in their homes. This bill should be paid for by the high-flying industry that created this problem. $700 billion should not be given to Wall Street and to the Bush administration unless those who caused this mess pay for it. As my bill indicates, the Income Equity Act, we should also prohibit the tax deductibility of executive compensation in any company where the highest paid corporate officer's compensation exceeds by 25-1 that of a worker's of the lowest wage. Third, we need an economic stimulus package to deal with the crushing reality of the recession that is hitting people hard each and every day. I cannot vote to reward those predatory and subprime lenders who are really creating havoc in the lives of millions of Americans. There has got to be a better way.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for your loyal opposition to this very bad requirement for us now to approve this. Let me thank Mr. Berman also for your leadership and for your hard work in managing this. Mr. Speaker, I strongly disapprove of this agreement, and urge my colleagues to do likewise. In withholding my approval, I seek not to penalize the people of India but, rather, to affirm the principle of nuclear nonproliferation and to maintain the integrity of the international nonproliferation standards. Several years ago, I had the privilege of visiting India, and I witnessed firsthand the brilliance, the spirit and the commitment of the democracy of the Indian people. The United States and India are the two largest democracies in the world and have for many years enjoyed an excellent relationship. Given the tremendous progress India has made and can be expected to make in the future, strengthening the ties that bind our countries together is a critically important strategic goal of the United States, but the suggestion that we can only do so by jettisoning adherence to the international nuclear nonproliferation framework that has served the world so well for more than 30 years, as approval of the agreement before us would do, is just simply unwise. It is also reckless. Approval of this agreement undermines our efforts to dissuade countries like Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. By approving this agreement, all we are doing is creating incentives for other countries to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Why should we expect, for example, Brazil or South Korea to continue playing by the rules in foregoing the development of nuclear weapons in exchange for civilian technology when they see that India receives the benefits while flouting the rules? Mr. Speaker, the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is sufficient reason for me to disapprove the agreement, but for those of my colleagues who may have supported the bill, there are many other compelling reasons to disapprove this agreement. So I ask all Members to say that we want to adhere to nonproliferation and not pass this approval. I thank the gentlemen for yielding, I also thank Chairman Berman for his hard work in managing the consideration by this body of the U.S.- India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which comes before the Congress for approval pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. I strongly disapprove of this agreement and urge my colleagues to do likewise. In withholding my approval I seek not to penalize the people of India but rather to affirm the principle of nuclear nonproliferation and to maintain the integrity of international nonproliferation standards. Several years ago I had the privilege of visiting India and witnessed firsthand the brilliance, the spirit, and the commitment to democracy of the Indian people. The United States and India are the two largest democracies in the world and have for many years enjoyed an excellent relationship. Given the tremendous progress India has made and can be expected to make in the future, strengthening the ties that bind our countries is a critically important strategic goal of the United States. But the suggestion that we can only do so by jettisoning adherence to the international nuclear non-proliferation framework that has served the world so well for more than 30 years, as approval of the agreement before would do, is not simply unwise. It is reckless. Approval of this agreement undermines our efforts to dissuade countries like Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. By approving this agreement all we are doing is creating incentives for other countries to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Why should we expect, for example, Brazil or South Korea to continue playing by the rules and foregoing development of nuclear weapons in exchange for civilian technology when they see India receive the benefits while flouting the rules? Mr. Speaker, the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is sufficient reason for me to disapprove this agreement. But for those of my colleagues who may have supported H.R. 5682, the Henry J. Hyde United States India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act (``Hyde Act''), there are two other compelling reasons to disapprove this agreement. First, the agreement will indirectly assist India's nuclear weapons program because foreign supplies of nuclear fuel to India's civil nuclear sector will free up electricity generation capacity to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Second, the Hyde Act requires that the provisions in any agreement governing safeguards on civil nuclear material and facilities remain in effect ``in perpetuity'' and must be ``consistent with IAEA standards and practices.'' The requirement that India be bound to comply with these safeguards in perpetuity is not satisfied because Indian governmental officials have publicly suggested that India may withdraw from the safeguards agreement if fuel supplies are interrupted, even if the interruption is the required response to a breach of the agreement by India. Mr. Speaker, we should not forget that unlike 179 other countries, India has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and is one of only three countries never to have signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. And it is noteworthy that while it continues to produce fissile material, India has never made a legally binding commitment to nuclear disarmament or nonproliferation. To sum up, this deal will not advance America's interests or make the world safer. It will, however, deal a near fatal blow to the stability of the international nonproliferation regime. For these reasons, I will vote to disapprove the agreement.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6983, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, to require equity in mental health and substance-related disorders under group health plans. I want to thank Representative Patrick Kennedy for his leadership in developing and negotiating the passage of this critical law. It's also right that this bill be named in honor of Senator Domenici and our friend, the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Senator Wellstone was truly a champion for mental health and this Act honors his memory. As a former psychological social worker, I appreciate the necessity of mental health parity and the significance of this bill. Many diseases go hand in hand with depression, substance abuse, and a variety of other mental health issues that cannot go untreated. For example, when a person is diagnosed with cancer or HIV, they and their families go through a range of emotional responses. To treat only the physical signs of illness is to ignore the broad ranging emotional implications of a disease. Currently, companies can limit both the number of visits that a person makes to a mental health professional in a year and the network of doctors a patient can see, even where no such limit exists for medical or surgical benefits. That is ridiculous. Disease treatment must provide individuals with the ability to adapt their lifestyle and manage the changes associated with their illness. Whether it is anxiety, stress, or even stigma--the diagnosis of a disease always impacts an individual's mental health. To downplay the necessity of mental health care in treatment is simply counterproductive. By enacting this bill to require mental health parity, we take a crucial step forward in guaranteeing that our constituents can access the level of health care that they need. I believe however, that fundamentally, we need to move to a universal health care system. Additionally, the Act prohibits insurance companies from charging different rates for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of- pocket expenses for mental health. These commonsense changes will help expand access to mental health services throughout the country, and I am pleased to support them. I urge the president to sign HR 6983, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and to recognize that mental health care is a crucial tool in promoting the overall health and well-being of the American people.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5244, the Credit Card Holder Bill of Rights. I want to applaud Congresswoman Maloney for introducing this timely and commonsense legislation that will help our constituents and will protect hard working families. It is critical that during this time of financial crisis in America, that we do more to help households who are increasingly burdened by rising gas prices, falling home values and rising credit card interest rates and fees. As we discuss a massive $700 billion bailout of lenders and banks, I believe that taking this small step to protect credit card consumers is the least that we can do. This bill seeks to protect consumers by putting very reasonable and fair limits on some of the most unfair practices of the credit card industry. It will require a fair notice to consumers before an interest rate can be arbitrarily raised. It doesn't stop them from raising their rates, it just requires that consumers be notified in advance. It will stop the unfair practice of billing customers for interest and fees on balances that they have already paid. It will require that payments be split fairly between higher rate balances and any lower rate balances so that families have some chance to reduce their debt's principal instead of companies reducing only the debts that carry the lowest interest rates first. Frankly, I wish that this bill were even stronger and that we were talking about requiring just the opposite. We should be requiring that all payments are applied to the highest interest rate balances first, but this is a strong step in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support protecting minors from predatory credit card companies, I urge my colleagues to limit so called sub prime credit cards with huge annual fees tacked automatically onto the debt on the cards, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 5244.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary history of the Chabot Space and Science center as it celebrates 125 years of serving our community and literally expanding our understanding of the universe. In 1883 the Oakland Observatory was founded through a gift from the prestigious Mr. Anthony Chabot to the City of Oakland. Originally located in downtown Oakland, the observatory provided a public telescope to the community and served as the official timekeeping station for the entire Bay Area for decades. Anthony Chabot, a prominent businessman throughout the Greater Bay Area, died only five years after the creation of the observatory, however in that short time the observatory had already become an integral part of the community. Due to its increased use and immense popularity, the observatory has consistently grown and improved throughout the past century. In 1915 the observatory was moved to the Oakland Hills, and in the mid-1960s the facility was considerably expanded with the addition of a 90-seat planetarium, laboratories, classrooms, workshops, an exhibit room, and a library. By this time, it had been renamed as the Chabot Science Center. Until 1977, the science center was staffed mainly by the dedicated personnel and volunteers of the Oakland Unified School District and visited frequently by public school students. Unfortunately, this ended when seismic safety concerns terminated access to the original observatory facility. Eager to reinstate the educational opportunities such a facility would bring the young people of the Bay Area, the Chabot Observatory and Science Center (COSC) was formed in 1989 as a Joint Powers Agency with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District, and the East Bay Regional Park District. Guided by the Eastbay Astronomical Society, this collaboration has exemplified the energy and contributions of this remarkable non-profit organization which has facilitated the renewal and revitalization of the center in the last two decades. The fruit of many years of dedicated leadership from several community groups, individuals, and local elected officials, construction of the new Science Center began in May, 1998. The Chabot Observatory and Science Center became the Chabot Space and Science Center in 2000--a name which better conveyed the organization's focus on astronomy and the space sciences, while communicating both the broad range and the technologically advanced nature of programs available in the new Science Center. On August 19, 2000 the new 86,000- square-foot, state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site opened to the public. On September 13, 2008 the Chabot Space and Science Center celebrated its 125 year anniversary. The legacy, promising future, and unique character of the Chabot Space and Science Center stands as an accomplishment for our entire community. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, I am pleased to applaud the tireless volunteers, staff, and relentless supporters of this indispensible asset to our community. Most of all, I would like to congratulate the residents of the Greater East Bay for their participation in making the 9th Congressional District one of the most diverse, active, and enlightened areas in the nation. May the Chabot Space and Science Center continue to enrich the lives of our people for many generations to come.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, when this Defense Authorization bill cleared the House last May it included an amendment which I authored requiring congressional approval of any agreement negotiated between the President and the Government of Iraq which commits the United States to the defense and security of Iraq from internal and external threats. But because the White House threatened to veto the bill over this prudent and reasonable provision, the version of the bill returned to us from the Senate no longer includes that limitation. That is reason alone to oppose this bill, which I do. Although I cannot support the bill as amended, I want to thank my good friend Mr. Skelton, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, for strongly supporting the Lee amendment and for his valiant efforts to retain it during the negotiations with a stubborn an unreasonable White House. An agreement to commit American troops to the defense and security of another country is not routine or typical or minor. It is a major commitment that must have the support of the American people. And that popular will can only be reflected by the Congress of the United States. That is why the Lee amendment was necessary. I regret we have lost a valuable opportunity to bring much needed accountability and transparency to our relationship with Iraq.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. To review the progress and assess the implementation of the Durban Declaration, to assess the effectiveness of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and other relevant United Nations mechanisms dealing with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to promote the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and to identify and share good practices in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We should support this resolution because it says very explicitly that we will not allow, impugn and support behavior at any of these conferences, including we condemn what happened at the 2001 NGO forum as it relates to anti-Semitism and attacks on Israel. And this is important because it really does encourage this active participation by the United States in this conference, because I can guarantee you, just as the seven or eight of us members of the Black Caucus who went to Durban the first time tried to beat back any type of anti-Semitism we saw bubbling, we will do that this time. And we want an official, high- level delegation along with us to go to Durban so that we can do the business and move forward to participate in a world forum to combat racism and discrimination. I'm proud of the fact that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights supports this. Mr. Berman laid out who all is involved in that conference. It's a good resolution. It's a resolution that deserves our support on both sides of the aisle. Thank you, again, Mr. Berman, for your leadership.

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for your patience and for your understanding and for your really very skillful way in bringing us all together to make sure that there is a resolution that we all can support. I do support H. Res. 1361, putting the House, first of all, on record in support of the United States leading a high-level diplomatic effort to ensure that the Durban Review Conference, better known as Durban II, serves as a forum to review commitments to combat all forms of racism. The resolution also directs the United States to strongly oppose any effort by any party to use the forum as a platform for attacking Israel, for promoting anti-Semitism, or undermining the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Madam Speaker, in 2006, the United Nations General Assembly voted to hold a conference to review the process and progress made by member nations in implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. This declaration was the signal achievement of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which was held August 31 through September 7, 2001 in Durban, South Africa. The conference known as the ``Durban Conference'' was attended by more than 10,000 persons from all corners of the globe. The Review Conference, or Durban II, is scheduled to convene in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2009. This resolution is an important resolution warranting the support of all Members. But it's also important for my colleagues to know that, once again, without the leadership of Chairman Berman and Chairman Payne and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, we really wouldn't have this opportunity to put the House on record directing the United States to exercise the strong leadership that we've all talked about at the Durban II Conference, and to resist any attempt by any party to launch anti-Semitic attacks on Israel. So let me just say it has been a privilege working with all of you over these past several months in crafting this language that reflects our shared commitment to combating racism in all forms and condemning anti-Semitism. I want to say also that I was part of the Durban Conference. Actually, we wrote a letter to the Secretary of State, then Secretary Colin Powell, under the leadership of our Congressional Black Caucus Chair then, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. And we told the Secretary of State and the State Department then that in no way did we believe Durban I should turn into a forum to attack Israel or become an anti-Semitic forum, and that, in fact, we believe this Durban Conference was so important to African Americans and to all minorities in America that we thought then that it was even important on Durban I to try to stop all of the things that the NGO forum allowed to happen. But I want to clarify that that was the forum; that was not the full Durban conference. We were there. The United States did not send an official delegation. And in fact there was some delegates there who actually left the conference. But Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, myself and others, we said we would end up just being the official delegation. I think there were seven or eight of us at Durban because we felt it was so important to first stay there to make sure that we could try to ensure that it was focused on combating racism. And, secondly, there were hundreds and hundreds of African Americans at that conference. This is one of the first conferences where African Americans could go abroad and talk about all forms of racism; what had happened, what the trans-Atlantic slave trade really was all about, its legacies and its vestiges. So this is an important conference. Let me just mention what this resolution is and summarize some of the provisions of this resolution. First, to review the progress and assess implementation of the declaration by all stakeholders.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me just say once again that I want to expressly thank the Chair of our committee, Mr. Berman, for his leadership and for his support in bringing this resolution to the floor. Also, I want to thank our ranking member, Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, for her assistance in making sure that we can have a bipartisan resolution. Every now and then, I think we ought to talk about peace. You know, that seems not to be a word or a term that we discuss very often on this floor, so we have a chance to just say ``peace'' a few times today. Thank you, Mr. Berman and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for giving us that chance. This resolution recognizes the vital role of nongovernmental organizations in peace-building efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, and it encourages them to remain steadfast in their commitment to nonviolence, in their recognition of Israel's right to exist, in their dedication to achieving a two-state solution, and in their work towards building trust and cooperation between the two peoples. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan resolution is strongly endorsed by many organizations and groups that have been long dedicated to the cause of peace, justice and of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. I'd like to mention for a minute the supporters of this resolution: The Churches for Middle East Peace, which is a coalition of 22 public policy offices of national churches and agencies--Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant--working to realize the vision of a region where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders; the Alliance for Middle East Peace, which is an alliance of 57 NGOs that are promoting people-to-people coexistence, cooperation and reconciliation between Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, and Jews in the Middle East; the Israel Policy Forum, which is an independent, nonpartisan organization advocating for sustained American, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and her neighbors and to actively promote the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and the Middle East Policy Advisory Committee, which is a coalition of organizations that my congressional district formed to bring a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Mr. Speaker, in a region that has suffered so much loss and seemingly interminable conflict, these efforts are critically important in addressing the daily struggles and challenges faced by Israelis and Palestinians. Sixty years ago, the great Senator Hubert Humphrey said that people are the issue of the 20th century. I might add now the well-being of people is the critical issue of the 21st century, and peace is needed for people to flourish. As the great theologian Saint Augustine reminds us, peace is the necessary condition in which people can be free to work out in their private destiny. That's why it's fitting and proper to recognize, as my resolution does, the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian individuals and of nongovernmental organizations that have been working, really, for decades to build bridges between the two peoples--to address humanitarian concerns and to further the cause of peace. Although the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has cost too many innocent lives and though it continues to bring terrible sufferance to both peoples, we can all be thankful that there are many nongovernmental organizations comprised of men and women of goodwill, working to build schools and hospitals, to foster cultural exchanges, to increase commercial ties, economic development, and to promote interreligious dialogue and understanding. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is currently at a critical juncture. Sustained progress toward peace depends on the commitment of individuals and of organizations that choose dialogue, friendship and openness. So this amendment recognizes the efforts of those unsung heroes and sheroes, and it encourages them to continue their important work.