Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2007, which makes significant strides in supporting the invaluable work of the United States Coast Guard. I applaud the many improvements that this legislation will make to Federal policy in protecting our coastal environment, strengthening security in our Nation's ports, and providing the tools and resources necessary for rapid emergency response and coordination. The collision of a containership with the San Francisco Bay Bridge near my district, and the resulting oil spill that spread throughout the Bay, raised many questions about maritime policy in our Nation's coastal waters and ports. Commendably though, the committee field hearing examining the Federal response to the oil spill also provided potential answers to these questions. I am pleased to see that many important provisions were included in H.R. 2830 to improve our water vessel traffic systems, sharpen incident response, and tighten environmental and security requirements. H.R. 2830 will mandate double hulls for new container vessels with large oil capacities, reducing the risk of spills and contamination, and protecting animals, plant life, and local economies from the harmful impact of such disasters. I also strongly support the provision added by my colleague, Rep. Tauscher, which authorizes the Coast Guard to issue regulations that require bar pilots to carry portable navigational devices when they are navigating large container and tanker ships. These portable devices provide pilots accurate and necessary information to safely navigate their ships, and are critical to preventing future accidents like the one that occurred in the San Francisco Bay. As a longtime advocate of bringing common sense to our national security priorities, I am also pleased to acknowledge the important steps this legislation takes to securing our ports and the safety of communities that live around them. H.R. 2830 takes critical steps to safeguard nuclear materials by establishing a pilot program to employ preventive radiological/nuclear detection equipment on Coast Guard vessels. Mr. Chairman, it is important to note that many States, including California, have been at the forefront of efforts to more effectively protect and manage our coastal waters. For instance, the Port of Oakland in my district was the first port in the United States to require that ships exchange their ballast water with seawater before entering the bay--a regulation that is now widely considered a critical measure of defense against invasive and non-indigenous species. Moving forward, we must work to ensure States can successfully complement Federal regulations in the future, to enhance coordination, and to provide a more comprehensive policy for protecting our waters. Mr. Chairman, I am also pleased that this bill will support Coast Guard efforts to diversify its workforce, by helping to build valuable partnerships between the Coast Guard and minority serving institutions. In 2006, just 16 percent of the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School graduates were minorities. Programs such as the Minority Serving Institution Management Internship Program, will recruit students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges, among others, and help to develop a new and diverse generation of civilian managers and Coast Guard Officers. The establishment of a Coast Guard Laboratory of Excellence-MSI Cooperative Technology Program at three minority-serving institutions will assist in modernizing the Coast Guard's security programs while increasing the number of minority graduate degree holders in science, engineering, mathematics, and information technology--all fields that are critical to the mission of the Coast Guard. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong support of H.R. 2830, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Israel and its people on the 60th anniversary of its founding and offer my sincere hope that the seventh decennial of its existence will usher in a period of lasting peace between it and its neighbors. We all agree that Israel and the Israeli people have accomplished much during its 60 years. As this resolution points out, Israel has forged a politically diverse and dynamic society with a thriving economy and vibrant cultural and intellectual life. It has produced 8 Nobel Prize winners and has provided sanctuary for millions of Jews throughout the world. I have visited Israel on more than one occasion and I was most impressed by its commitment to many of the democratic principles we cherish here in the United States. As the resolution points out, there are many common bonds between the United States and Israel. So, Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of the Israeli people and Israel's right to exist, I agree we should take time to recognize Israel on this momentous occasion. I also believe, however, that we must take this opportunity to encourage Israel and all the parties involved to find a workable solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to redouble efforts on the path to peace. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 322, which recognizes the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, today is Equal Pay Day. As a cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act, I rise to join my colleague, Congresswoman DeLauro in calling for passage of this important bill. This legislation strengthens the current Equal Pay Act of 1963 and represents another important step in our Nation's efforts to end gender based wage discrimination. Since the Equal Pay Act was signed into law over 45 years ago, the wage gap has narrowed less than half a cent per year. African American women earn just 63 cents on the dollar, and Hispanic American women fare worse, at 52 cents. As women grow older, the wage gap widens: women aged 45 to 64, who are preparing for retirement, earn only 71 percent of what men do. At the current rate the wage gap is closing, the Institute for Women's Policy Research estimates equity will not be achieved until 2057. Given that 41 percent of women provide the sole source of income for their families, lower incomes affect their ability to pay for essentials like groceries, doctor's visits, and child care. Current increases in gas prices, rising foods costs, and a stagnant job market are especially impacting women during these difficult economic times. The Paycheck Fairness Act will enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements by allowing women to sue for compensatory and punitive damages if wage discrimination is proven. This measure alone will compensate women for years of discrimination, and send a clear signal to employers that wage discrimination will not be tolerated. Moreover, H.R. 1338 enhances training and community outreach programs that will educate employees, labor organizations, and the general public on ways to effectively negotiate salaries and benefits. These programs will develop a new generation of self-reliant women in the workforce. Finally this bill recognizes employers who proactively adjust their wage scales to ensure that women are paid fairly in comparison to men. The Paycheck Fairness Act outlines measurable actions; and furthermore, it ensures that nationally we are addressing and working to rectify years of gender based wage discrimination. In my home State of California, women earn only $55,000 compared to their male counterparts who earn $72,000 with an equivalent education level. While I am disappointed that California has one of the largest disparities in pay rates between men and women, this is a national problem that we must rectify. Ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work is a matter of basic fairness that affects all working women and their families. I urge all of my colleagues to support this very critical piece of legislation, and I applaud Congresswoman DeLauro for continuing to highlight the importance of passing this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Hastings amendment to H.R. 2634 which expresses the sense of Congress that Haiti's debts should be immediately forgiven. This amendment seeks to empower a nation that has endured a turbulent past and has fought courageously to achieve a relative measure of stability. As the world has experienced a 40 percent rise in global food prices since mid-2007, Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has keenly felt this increase on a greater scale. Eighty percent of Haiti's population lives on less than $2 a day. The cost of staple foods which Haiti's economy depends on, such as rice, beans, fruit, and condensed milk, has gone up 50 percent in the past year. The high cost of food in Haiti has led to anti-government protests and riots, in which at least 5 people have died and 40 people have been wounded. These extreme reactions to the humanitarian crisis will jeopardize Haiti's security and the capacity of its democratic institutions to govern effectively. To put it simply, Haiti's democracy cannot survive if it is unable to ensure that its people have access to basic food commodities at a reasonable price. The Hastings amendment reinforces the point that Haiti is scheduled to send $48,700,000 in debt payments to multilateral financial institutions in 2008--money that could be better spent on providing for its people. In light of this devastating global food crisis and the crisis in Haiti, we must urge the Secretary of the Treasury to do all that he can to expedite the complete and immediate cancelation of Haiti's debts to all international financial institutions. This is a reasonable amendment that responds to an urgent need, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy. We lost our beloved Mrs. Pinkie Hardy on April 3, 2008. She led a full and vibrant life during her 91 years on this earth, raising a loving family and mentoring many in her church and community. On May, 19, 1916, Pinkie Parker was born in Washington, Louisiana to Alice White and John Parker. During Pinkie's life, she witnessed many of the Nation's most turbulent and controversial moments. Growing up in the south in the first quarter of the last century, Pinkie was self- educated and she devoted her energies to her community, her family, and her faith. She was a lifelong resident of Eunice, Louisiana. In 1936, at the age of 20, Pinkie Parker married Herman Joseph Hardy. From this loving union, five sons and two daughters were born. In 1949, Mrs. Hardy became a parishioner at St. Mathilda Catholic Church. She remained a devout and extremely active member of this parish until she became ill just last year. Mrs. Hardy contributed immeasurably to the growth and service of St. Mathilda Parish during her life. Bishop Flynn appointed her as the first Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at St. Mathilda. She also served as Lector and Parish Council President for several years. For 50 years, Mrs. Hardy was an active member of the Knights of Peter Claver (KPC) Council #92. Mrs. Hardy spent 26 of those years serving as the Grand Lady of KPC. In 1987, Mrs. Hardy was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Diocese of Lafayette. In 2002, she received the Bishop's Medal for devoted service to her church and society. It is clear that Mrs. Hardy was an indispensable component of her community. She came of age and lived her adult life during the most tumultuous and influential political period in American history. Mrs. Hardy's life exemplifies that of many African-Americans during this century, their struggle for human rights and civic freedom, and their strength and perseverance. These important men and women are seldom recognized for their greatness. Mrs. Hardy's life is one to be remembered and admired as an example of the true work and inner fortitude that keeps this country together. These individuals dedicated their lives to the service of their God and community in the face of incredible odds. Each and every one of them had a unique story, a special impact, and a loving family. Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy was a member of mine. On a very personal level, Mrs. Hardy was ``family'' to me. She shared her deep religious faith, her wonderful Creole cooking (especially her gumbo) and her insights as a strong, yet gentle African-American woman with me on several occasions. To know ``Mrs. Pinkie'' was to love her. Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy will be sorely missed by all those who loved her and were honored to have her kindness and spirit touch their lives. Her memory and legacy will live on through her seven children, five daughters-in-law, 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren as well as innumerable relatives and friends. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and children. Thank you for sharing her great spirit with so many people over the last century. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me first just say how happy I am today to be able to speak on behalf and in support of H.R. 2634, and I have to first thank our Speaker for leading this House in doing the right thing on behalf of the poor and those yearning for a better life. I also must thank my colleague Congresswoman Maxine Waters for introducing this important legislation. She is a true leader in the debt relief movement. The world truly owes her a debt of gratitude for her consistent work and for never letting up on finding ways to relieve the suffering of the poor. Also, let me thank Chairman Barney Frank for his leadership and for bringing this bill to the floor today in a bipartisan and timely manner and for his commitment to help those who need our help, and to Spencer Bachus, who has been committed to debt relief since I have been here, because they fundamentally believe that this is the morally right thing to do. And working together, they have shown the world, really, the best in elected leadership in this House. So thank you, Chairman Frank. Mr. Chairman, as an original cosponsor of this bill, I feel very strongly in the power and the benefit of a simple act of forgiveness and what that can bring. In my travels to the developing world, I have witnessed what Mr. Bachus and what Ms. Waters so eloquently described today. As a result of this legislation, an additional 27 countries could potentially be eligible for expanded debt relief. This speaks volumes to what can be done to alleviate poverty or help address crises in the developing world, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic. These countries would have to meet strict criteria to guarantee transparency in their financial management systems and ensure that the savings are actually spent on alleviating poverty. The bill would also ensure the involvement of civil society organizations, so important, to help set priorities for how this money should be spent. The action we take today is not only the right thing to do for countries facing a crushing debt burden, but it speaks volumes about our fundamental values as a nation and as a people. This bill does not give people fish but the means to catch their own fish, feed their families, and live their lives in the manner that all God's children deserve. Is it any wonder that this bill has the support of over 60 groups led by the Jubilee U.S.A. network? Backing this effort, this coalition includes such a broad range of organizations from the faith community, environmentalists, labor, international development groups, and grassroots advocacy organizations.

Ms. LEE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me just say these organizations should be saluted today. They deserve our support and thanks for their work in raising their voices and doing the hard work to help build this great bipartisan support for this bill. Debt forgiveness is the right thing to do. It is consistent with our values as a Nation. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill and proclaim today as a day of jubilee.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, let me begin by thanking my colleague Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the gentlewoman from California, for organizing this very important special order tonight. Let me just say to you, Congresswoman Waters, your clear voice and your sound judgment as the co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus has helped guide this antiwar movement, not only here in the House of Representatives, but throughout the country. Your boldness and your vision in organizing those of us who knew that this war was wrong from day one in putting together over, what, some 77 members now of the Out of Iraq Caucus, I have to salute you and thank you for that, because we will never go back again. All we can do is go forward to try to end this occupation and try to prevent another preemptive war against Iran. It is very timely that Congresswoman Waters has called us here tonight to sound the alarm on Iran. It is truly disturbing to me to hear many of the same drumbeats on this administration 's march to war with Iran as we saw 5 years ago in the run-up to the war in Iraq. So I want to provide just a little bit of history on Iraq to draw out some of these parallels, in the hope that they will provide Congress and the American people with a clear warning signal. Madam Speaker, this discussion is also timely today because today is April 15th, and millions of Americans across our country are right now racing the clock to beat the tax filing deadline. Lots of them are asking, how much do they owe and what is the government doing with their money? One answer, Madam Speaker, is that in the last 5 years, this administration has spent nearly a half trillion dollars on the Iraq war and occupation. This Iraq tax, and that is what it is, an Iraq tax, comes out to approximately $16,500 for every American family of four. Has the tax been worth it? Let's look at what we have gotten in exchange. More than 4,000 of the Nation's best and bravest have been killed. More than 30,000 others have been wounded, many suffering permanent and debilitating injuries. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians have died, and millions have been internally displaced or sought refuge in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the occupation of Iraq has caused serious damage to America's international reputation and created a generation, mind you, a generation of future enemies incensed by the endless occupation of their country by a foreign power. Madam Speaker, compounding the folly of this strategic blunder, the $500 billion which American taxpayers already have spent on this occupation is now undermining our ability to finance the investments needed to address the pressing domestic needs of the American people and to revive our sagging economy. Given what the Iraq tax has brought American families, and this $500 billion is quickly mounting to almost $3 trillion very soon, is anyone really surprised that the American people are angry and demanding change? The saddest aspect of this whole story and this whole episode, Madam Speaker, is it did not have to be that way. Along with 125 of my colleagues, a substantial majority of House Democrats, I opposed the war, like Congresswoman Waters did, from the beginning, and we voted against the resolution authorizing the use of military force. I offered an amendment Congresswoman Waters supported, we got 72 votes during that period, to the original use of force resolution to prohibit the administration, remember this, Congresswoman Waters, we tried, we tried, we did everything we could do to try to keep the administration from taking military action until the United Nations could complete their inspections and confirm that Saddam Hussein's regime indeed possessed weapons of mass destruction which it intended to use against us or to give to our sworn enemies. Had the Lee amendment been adopted, we would have learned much sooner and at far less cost what the whole world knew, that evidentially we didn't know, but some of us knew, but the whole world now knows, including the American people, that Iraq did not pose an imminent threat to the United States, was not involved in the September 11th attacks, had no ties to al Qaeda and had no weapons of mass destruction. The war and occupation has also exacted an awful toll on our military force, our structure, our readiness, and the men and women in uniform and their families. General Richard Cody, the Army Vice Chief of Staff, testified before the Congress that the Army is out of balance. The current demand of our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the substantial supply and limits our ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies. Because of this administration's mistake, tens of thousands of servicemen and women have been required to undertake lengthy deployments into the war zone, two, three, and some even four times. This has placed enormous strain on them and their families and increased their risk of struggling with mental health issues, including when they return home many, many post-traumatic stress issues that we have never seen before. Nearly 60,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, and most experts in the field believe the numbers could be much higher. Some may ask, why is it necessary to review this history? Well, as the old saying goes, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. The other reason for reviewing this history is because it goes straight to the veracity and the credibility of this administration that brought us this debacle and which may be maneuvering to reprise its strategic and geopolitical incompetence by taking preemptive military action against Iran. If you listen carefully, you can hear the same distant drumbeats of a coming war with Iran. The signs are very familiar. Nearly on a daily basis we read or hear these from the administration, and let me just repeat a few of these drumbeats that we hear. They say Iran is the single greatest threat to the stability in Iraq, although when I asked General Petraeus last week if Iran was in Iraq 5 years ago, he said they weren't really ``kissing cousins.'' I think that is what his comment was. No, Iran was not in Iraq 5 years ago. Iran is building nuclear weapons. Iran is killing American soldiers in Iraq, arming, training and funding insurgents and terrorists. Iran is interfering with the peace process in the Middle East. I am reminded how the administration sent General Colin Powell, do you remember that, Congresswoman Waters, the Secretary of State, by far the most effective and respective spokesman, before the United Nations Security Council to make the case to the world that Iraq posed an imminent threat to regional peace and security. The case presented by General Powell accomplished its mission, but its factual foundation rested on falsehoods, misinformation and speculation masquerading as evidence. To this day, General Powell regards his performance that day as really a mark on an otherwise distinguished career of public service to our Nation. General Petraeus is the 2008 version, quite frankly, of General Powell. He inspires more confidence than President Bush and is far more credible than Vice President Cheney. But so did General Powell inspire and bring this credibility to this administration, and he turned out to be wrong; terribly wrong. Again last week, General Petraeus testified that Iranian-backed so- called special groups posed the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a Democratic Iraq. He testified that it was these groups that launched Iranian rockets and mortar rounds at Iraq's seat of government two weeks ago, causing loss of innocent life and fear in the capital and requiring Iraqi and coalition actions in response. This is starting to sound like the groundwork being laid for the need to take defensive action against Iran. This is unacceptable. We should not be looking for an excuse to attack Iran. Congress should not stand for yet another so-called preemptive military strike, and we should take action to clearly prohibit any such attempt against Iran. As I stated, we have been down this road before. We have learned a simple truth from five hard and bitter years in Iraq. No unjust war ever produced a just and lasting peace. It has not worked in Iraq. It will not work in Iran. What is needed is not another rush to unwarranted, unnecessary and misguided military action, but rather a strong diplomatic surge for peace and reconciliation. And, yes, I do believe that a nuclear-armed Iran poses a danger. I believe we need to move forward with nonproliferation efforts, including looking at our own arsenal of nuclear weapons in our own country. Nuclear weapons should not be an option at this point, given the dangers of the world. So we need to address nuclear nonproliferation in the context of a strong diplomatic initiative. One of the most important first steps we should take is to have direct, comprehensive and unconditional bilateral talks with Iran. To facilitate this goal, it is imperative for the administration to show that it is serious in this endeavor by appointing a special envoy. I think we need to appoint a special person, an individual who does nothing but ensure that we move forward to reduce the tensions in the region, and this envoy should receive the necessary support to carry out his or her mandate. That is why I introduced H.R. 5056, the Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008. Among other things, this bill directs the President to appoint a high level envoy empowered to conduct direct, unconditional, bilateral negotiations with Iran for the purpose of easing tensions and normalizing relations between the United States and Iran. No one says this is going to be easy, but we must start somewhere. The latest National Intelligence Estimate released last week representing the consensus view of our 16 intelligence agencies clearly indicates that Iran is nowhere close to having nuclear weapons capability. The NIE assessment underscores why it is critical for Congress to ensure that this administration's saber rattling against Iran does not turn into a march to war. We have been down this path before. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the last 5 years in Iraq demonstrates the folly of rushing off to start a war. We don't need another war in Iran. We need to end the war in Iraq and fully fund the redeployment of American troops so that they may be reunited with their families in the United States. We need to use our funds to support them, protect them, and bring them home. And we need to begin to move forward to address the real issues with regard to Iran and begin to take the military option off of the table, because our President, this country always has the military option, and it makes no sense to use this or to talk about it if we truly intend to reduce tensions and look for some form of global peace and security. Thank you, again, Congresswoman Waters for calling us together today.

Ms. LEE. I, too, want to commend the gentlelady from Texas for raising some of the constitutional issues that we have to grapple with each and every day. I would like to talk briefly about the issue of the preemptive strike which is central to this administration's foreign and military policy. In essence what the Bush administration has decided is that it is all right, and actually it is their standard, to be able to use force not necessarily in the face of an imminent threat, but it is all right and it is a policy of this administration to be able to use force to prevent a future perceived threat. All of this is couched in this global war on terror where oftentimes they believe they do have a blank check to use force wherever they want to go in the world. When you look at what they are trying to do now in Iraq with regard to the security agreements, they are trying to negotiate a permanent military presence in Iraq without even coming back to Congress to try to get the authority to do that. I think minimally, and we have several bills that have been introduced into this body, that basically just say before the administration decides to use force or take military actions or strike Iran, minimally they must come to Congress to seek authorization. Well, for the life of me, this is the People's House. I cannot figure out why we cannot have a resolution as basic as that come to this body so we can pass that. I think that should be a minimum standard to protect the American people from first of all what could be total chaos. Secondly, when you just look at the expenditure of resources and what a possible preemptive strike could cost as it relates to Iran in terms of treasury, blood, our young men and women and also our financial resources. We may just be a few voices in the wilderness crying out tonight, but we are crying out very loudly and asking the American people to look at these signs because as Congresswoman Waters said, we are sounding the alarm so we can stop what appears to be on the horizon.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me first say to the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I want to thank you also for staying the course for freedom, justice, and equality for so many years. Thank you, Mr. Conyers, and thank you for yielding. Madam Speaker, let me say that I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1095, and I also must thank Congressman Al Green for introducing this very important resolution but also for his consistent voice for liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Congressman Green. The Fair Housing Act was critical in ending the rampant discrimination in the housing industry 40 years. Today the Fair Housing Act continues to play a vital and significant role in ensuring fair and equal access to housing for all Americans. It is in part due to the failure, however, of this administration to enforce these civil rights laws that led to the predatory lending practices that fueled the housing crisis our Nation now faces. Just like many other innovative and progressive ideas about equality and fairness, I must remind us of the fact that the Fair Housing Act had a California precursor: the Rumford Fair Housing Act, one of the first fair housing laws in the Nation. Former Assemblyman William Byron Rumford, the first African American from Northern California elected to the California legislature, and whose seat I was later honored to hold, passed this landmark bill in 1963, and today I also honor his memory and his legacy. But like many today who argue that the housing and financial services industries do not need further oversight or regulation, I must remind us also that during this period, a candidate for governor over 40 years ago, Ronald Reagan, fought very hard against fair housing laws. But, thankfully, Ronald Reagan lost his fight to make housing discrimination the law in California, and 40 years ago the Congress passed the Fair Housing Act to outlaw discrimination in housing in every State of the union. Like my colleagues, I also honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today as we pass this resolution. Unfortunately, today the promise of fair housing remains unfulfilled. De facto segregation has kicked in. Subprime mortgages have unfairly hit African Americans and the Latino community and other communities of color. So we must work to educate Americans about their right to fair housing and work together to enforce the law. And we must fully fund fair housing programs to at least the tune of $84 million in fiscal 2009. So, Madam Speaker, we must recommit ourselves today to make these critical investments a guarantee for fair housing for all Americans. Housing should be a basic human right in our great country.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, because I was questioning General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee today, I missed rollcall votes numbered 167 through 169 regarding amendments to H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act. Had I been present, I would voted ``aye'' on the Grijalva amendment (rollcall 167); ``nay'' on the Bishop (UT) amendment No. 3 (rollcall 168); and ``nay'' on the Bishop (UT) amendment No. 4 (rollcall 169).

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, American families continue to struggle in the face of this recession and yet in 1 day the Bush administration spends $339 million on the war in Iraq. As General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker appear before Congress this week to defend this occupation, congressional Democrats have many questions about the costs of this occupation. This country has spent more than $500 billion in Iraq. It could go up to 3 to $4 trillion. Yet 47 million Americans have no health insurance. Last month, then GAO Comptroller David Walker stated the Iraqis have a budget surplus. We have a huge budget deficit. One of the questions is who should be paying? That's a really good question, considering that we are currently pumping billions of dollars into this war, which is stimulating economies in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while the American economy is in recession. What about investing money here instead of in education, health care and infrastructure to create jobs? This occupation has placed a massive human and financial cost on the United States, and yet President Bush demands more of the same. We must end this occupation and bring our troops home.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 5471, naming a U.S. Post Office the ``Julia M. Carson Post Office Building.'' It is fitting and right that we recognize and honor the extraordinary life of our dear friend and former colleague Julia May Carson. It is also fitting that the Julia Carson building will be located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Like Dr. King, Congresswoman Carson championed the rights of the underprivileged, the underrepresented and the overlooked. Many people in Indiana and many of us in Congress need no help to remember the great woman that Julia Carson was or what her service meant to her community and the Nation. We came to depend on her determined leadership and commitment throughout her tenure in Congress. She was a true voice for the voiceless. I know that her legacy will be carried on through the work of her grandson, the newest member of Congress, Andre Carson. Naming this post office after Julia is the least that we can do to mark her dedication and service to the people of Indianapolis and a grateful nation. Her loyalty and her patriotism, her service and her love of our country will never be forgotten. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5472.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. LEE. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congresswoman Hilda Solis.

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first of all, let me thank our Speaker for her unyielding stand regarding China's human rights record in Tibet and its association with the genocidal government of the Sudan. This resolution calls on China to end its crackdown on nonviolent protestors in Tibet and to talk with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address the very legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people. It sends a clear message to China that the United States does not condone violence and repression against the Tibetan people. This resolution is also timely as the Olympic torch will make its only stop in North America tomorrow when it comes to the Speaker's district in San Francisco, California, right across the bay from my home district. As host of the Olympic games, China is facing calls to live up to the Olympic spirit of peace and brotherhood and sisterhood that the torch represents. China's actions in Tibet and its ongoing support for the genocidal regime in Sudan run contrary to that Olympic spirit. Madam Speaker, China must play by the rules when it comes to human rights and to genocide. Now is the time to begin this dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There are legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people which must be addressed, and who better to have this dialogue with than His Holiness the Dalai Lama? I want to thank the Speaker for really carrying the torch for freedom and human rights and dignity of the Tibetan people. This resolution heeds the call of the international community and puts this body on the right side of history.

Ms. LEE. I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) who is a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy. We lost our beloved Mrs. Parker Hardy on April 3, 2008. She led a full and vibrant life during her 91 years on this earth, raising a loving family and mentoring many in her church and community. On May 19, 1916, Pinkie Parker was born in Washington, Louisiana to Alice White and John Parker. During Pinkie's life, she witnessed many of the Nation's most turbulent and controversial moments. Growing up in the south in the first quarter of the last century, Pinkie was self- educated and she devoted her energies to her community, her family, and her faith. She was a life-long resident of Eunice, Louisiana. In 1936, at the age of 20, Pinkie Parker married Herman Joseph Hardy. From this loving union, five sons and two daughters were born. In 1949, Mrs. Hardy, a devout and extremely active member of this congregation until she became ill just last year. Mrs. Hardy contributed immeasurably to the growth and service of St. Mathilda Parish during her life. Bishop Flynn appointed her as the first Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at St. Mathilda. She also served as Lector and Parish Council President for several years. For 50 years, Mrs. Hardy was an active member of the Knights of Peter Claver (KPC) Council No. 92. Mrs. Hardy spent 26 of those years serving as the Grand Lady of KPC. In 1987, Mrs. Hardy was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Diocese of Lafayette. In 2002, she received the Bishop's Medal for devoted service to her church and society. It is clear that Mrs. Hardy was an indispensable component of her community. She came of age and lived her adult life during the most tumultuous and influential political period in American history. Mrs. Hardy's life exemplifies that of many African-Americans during this century, their struggle for human rights and civic freedom, and their strength and perseverance. These important men and women are seldom recognized for their greatness. Mrs. Hardy's life is one to be remembered and admired as an example of the true work and inner fortitude that keeps this country together. These individuals dedicated their lives in the service of their God and community in the face of incredible odds. Each and every one of them had a unique story, a special impact, and a loving family. Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy was a member of mine. On a very personal level, Mrs. Hardy was ``family'' to me. She shared her deep religious faith, her wonderful Creole cooking (especially her gumbo) and her insights as a strong, yet gentle African-American woman with me on several occasions. To know ``Mrs. Pinkie'' was to love her. Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy will be sorely missed by all those who loved her and were honored to have her kindness and spirit touch their lives. Her memory and legacy will live on through her seven children, a daughter-in-law, 34 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild as well as innumerable relatives and friends. Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Mrs. Pinkie Parker Hardy. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and children. Thank you for sharing her great spirit with so many people over the last century. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. As a former member of the staff here on Capitol Hill for 11 years, I have to mention some of our staff members' names particularly because they did a phenomenal job in this. Dr. Pearl Alice Marsh, of course, Kristin Wells, David Abramowitz, Peter Yeo, Bob King, Yleem Poblete, Mark Gage, Joan Condon, Heather Flynn, Sheri Rickert, Naomi Seiler, Jessica Boyer, and of course Christos Tsentas of my staff. These staff members and other members, they deserved, their work deserves really to be applauded because this was not just work as a professional on the Hill. This is part of their life's work and I have to thank them again for their diligence and their competence. This is a bipartisan compromise, so there were things that we had to give up and things that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle had to give up, but that's what compromise is all about. Let me just mention a few of the items that were included in this bill. Of course it included language taken from my bill, H.R. 1713, the PATHWAY Act, to strike the 33 percent abstinence-until-marriage and provide a comprehensive prevention strategy to address the needs of women and children. It also includes language taken from my bill, H.R. 3812, the African Health Capacity and Investment Act, to build health capacity by recruiting, training and retaining health professionals and strengthen health systems. Now, of course there's still some issues I think need to be addressed which aren't in this bill. I think we should eliminate the prostitution pledge, which violates the first amendment and poses an unnecessary barrier to organizations that work with sex workers. I think we need to recognize the public health benefits of linking our HIV and AIDS programs with family planning services by eliminating ideological restrictions imposed by the global gag rule. I think we need to end the unjust and discriminatory travel and immigration ban on people living with HIV and AIDS who wish to enter into the United States. So these are not impossible goals. In addition, we should fully fund the recruitment, training and retention programs for health professionals with a focus on training doctors and nurses to build health capacity and strengthen health care systems. So I hope that we can do this as we move forward. Let me again thank the chairman for his leadership in addressing the greatest humanitarian, national security and public health crisis of our time.

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding. I rise today to support this amendment and to commend the gentleman from Indiana. I understand this is his first amendment, and it shows that he has hit the ground running. Today, I am reminded of our former colleague, his grandmother, our beloved Congresswoman Julia Carson. I know she is smiling today and is very proud of your efforts; thank you. Historically black colleges and universities have trained some of our finest dedicated doctors, nurses and health care workers. These colleges and universities go way beyond the call of duty. They have a deep cultural and historical understanding and connection to the continent of Africa. They are attacking HIV/AIDS here on the homefront where HIV and AIDS is disproportionately affecting the African-American community. So by developing human and institutional capacity in Africa and in the Caribbean, we are bringing to bear, in a comprehensive manner, mechanisms to maximize our effectiveness in combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. So I want to salute and thank the gentleman from Indiana once again for his leadership and for helping to strengthen this bill.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5501. And let me begin by thanking Chairman Berman, our ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, our subcommittee chair, Mr. Payne, also Chairman Waxman, Mr. Smith, ranking member of the subcommittee, and all who have helped to make this legislation an amazing piece of legislation. And I know that Chairman Lantos and Chairman Hyde want to thank us and are here with us honoring their legacy because they would want to see this move forward as it is today. As one the five original co-authors of both the initial legislation establishing PEPFAR and of this new bill reauthorizing PEPFAR, I am pleased that we are moving forward. And again, I have to thank Chairman Berman and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for making sure that this legislation is really in the spirit of the bipartisan cooperation that we have moved forward with in the past. There's no other piece of legislation that we will consider in Congress this year that will have the greatest impact on the lives of people around the world. Like many, I have witnessed firsthand many times the dramatic and positive impact of our AIDS programs on individuals and communities throughout the world, especially in sub- Saharan Africa. But it wasn't always this way. Now, 10 years ago, actually, when I first came to Congress, I think it was 10 years in April, the world really had not recognized the devastating toll that HIV and AIDS were beginning to take on families and communities throughout Africa. Since that time, however, we have worked together on a bipartisan basis on a number of very important legislative initiatives that have put the United States on the right side of history when it comes to this global pandemic. First, in 2000, we passed and President Clinton signed into law, H.R. 3519, the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act. Now this important bill was a vision inspired by an idea by our former colleague and our friend, former Congressman, now Mayor Ron Dellums of Oakland, California to establish an AIDS Marshall plan in Africa, for Africa, funded through a World Bank AIDS Trust Fund. With the help and leadership of our former colleague, Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa, we turned this idea into legislation which provided the founding contribution and the framework for what we know today as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In 2001, working with both former Chairmen Hyde and Lantos, Mr. Berman, Mr. Payne, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Smith, we drafted H.R. 2069, which was called the Global Access to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Awareness, Education and Treatment Act. This was the first bill that dared to provide large scale antiretroviral therapy to people living in the developing world. Although we made progress in advancing this legislation through Congress in 2001 and 2002, we weren't able to reach a conference agreement with the Senate before the 107th Congress. Thankfully, however, our discussions would lay the foundation for quick action in the next Congress. So at the end of 2002, the Congressional Black Caucus, along with practically every advocacy group in the United States, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to set up and create a presidential initiative on AIDS especially for sub-Saharan Africa. In January of 2003, the President took up our cause, understanding the growing sense of urgency that had been building for years. His promise of $15 billion during his State of the Union address provided the impetus that we needed to pass H.R. 1298, the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, which created PEPFAR. In 2005, we took yet another step forward when we recognized that our foreign assistance programs did not adequately address the needs of children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS. So, working again with former Chairman Hyde and Chairman Lantos, we passed, and the President signed H.R. 1409, the Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act. So, Madam Chairman, I lay out some of the history of our work on this important issue because it speaks volumes about what is possible when we come together in the spirit of bipartisan compromise as we honor the great legacy of both Chairman Lantos and Chairman Hyde through this legislation. Chairman Lantos, I know, very much wanted to reach a bipartisan compromise on this bill, as did Chairman Hyde. I'm saddened that both of them are not with us to witness this moment. But I know that they are very pleased with what we have put together today.

Ms. LEE. May I have an additional minute, please?

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness and respect today, along with Congresswoman Lynn C. Woolsey, to honor Hayganoush Markarian, a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, who passed away recently at the age of 105. Hayganoush was one of the few survivors of the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century, so it further saddens me that she died without the government of Turkey, from where she fled, or the government of the United States, where she found refuge, officially recognizing that Genocide. Much has been said about the facts and numbers and statistics. We know that in Turkey between 1915 and 1921, 1.5 million Armenians died-- 80 percent of the population. But it is women like Hayganous who put a human face on the Armenian Genocide and remind us that we are talking about actual people whose lives were lost or whose homes and families were destroyed. Hayganoush Markarian was born on January 24, 1902, in the historic Armenian city of Kharpert, which suffered huge losses in the Armenian Genocide. She lived with her parents, older brother, and four sisters. When the Turks came after her father and brother, both went into hiding--her brother dressed as a girl in order to safely cross dangerous areas and her father initially hid in the well at their home and later with Kurdish friends. Her mother somehow saved the family from the deportations and massacres and re-united with her husband briefly after World War I, before he died as a result of the damp conditions in the wells he had hidden in for such long periods. In 1923, the remainder of the family made their way to Syria, where Hayganoush married Markar Markarian in 1925. The Markarians later moved to Lebanon and eventually the United States. In both Syria and Lebanon, Hayganoush was an active member of the Armenian Relief Society, the oldest Armenian women's organization operating in the world. Hayganoush resided in Oakland until her death in March of this year at the age of 105. She had prayed she would live to see the day when she and other victims of the Armenian Genocide would see the Genocide officially recognized both here and in Turkey. Madam Speaker, although Hayganoush's prayer was not granted, she did see such a resolution pass the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives last fall. I am proud to be a cosponsor of that resolution, and I look forward to the day when the U.S. government officially recognizes the Genocide. Hayganoush Markarian's story will serve as a reminder to us of the sanctity of human life in Armenia and around the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise this morning in strong support, first of all, of H. Res. 76, a resolution to create a national holiday in honor of a great human being, Cesar Chavez. Mr. Speaker, already nine States celebrate his life. I am proud that California was the first. The legacy that he left on the history of this Nation must be recognized. He made a difference, not only for Latinos, not only for migrant workers but for the poor and the working poor, and he also built a coalition of conscience across racial and economic boundaries, just as his cofounder, a great woman and a good friend, Dolores Huerta, has. I am reminded today of the political support that Cesar provided me during my first California campaign for the California legislature. He truly helped me make and win my first election and for that I am deeply grateful. I had the privilege to attend his funeral with Congressman Baca in Delano, California. As I marched behind his humble wooden casket, I was reminded of the fact that one person who stood for nonviolence can and could and did make a difference. The Martin Luther King Freedom Center in Oakland, California, studies the lives of great freedom fighters such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and also Cesar Chavez. The young people of our country and especially in my district are getting to know this human being who really did live a life committed to justice and freedom for all. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this growing movement for a national holiday in honor and in memory of this great civil and human rights leader. He is such an important historical figure in our Nation. Si se puede, yes, we can create a country of liberty and justice for all. Cesar Chavez showed us how to do it. He showed us with his gentle and kind spirit. He showed us with his tough love. He showed us how to march. He showed us how to care about those, the least of these, who had no voice. And for that this country owes him a debt of gratitude and I can think of no other way than to honor him by passing H. Res. 76.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentlelady for her leadership and for yielding and for organizing these very important special orders, also, really, for reminding us tonight of much of this unfinished business of our great country, and laying out the glaring disparities that we're witnessing in the African American community; but also, what our economic empowerment agenda is of the Congressional Black Caucus. So, thank you, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. Millions of Americans are one paycheck, that is, if they have a paycheck, away from poverty. Now, the numbers speak for themselves. Gas prices are at record levels, averaging, in my district, $3.73 a gallon, even as oil is traded at over $100 a barrel and big oil companies are reaping in record profits. Foreclosures have skyrocketed, putting hundreds of thousands of people out on the street. The American dream of homeownership is quickly turning into a nightmare for many hardworking individuals and families in our country. In my district, in Alameda County, we are projected to lose nearly 4,700 homes to foreclosures due to the subprime mortgage crisis, eliminating $3.2 billion in home equity value. That's equal to a drop in home equity by almost $8,500 for each homeowner in my district. Meanwhile, food prices have risen, squeezing recipients of food stamps even as the number of people expected to enroll in the program will reach a record 28 million people in the next fiscal year. Health care costs are going through the roof, even as this administration is posing massive cuts in funding for Medicare and Medicaid, and African Americans continue to be the hardest hit. As of February 2008, the unemployment rate for African Americans was over 8.3 percent, nearly double the national average of 4.3 percent. Among the African American community, poverty rates are 2.5 times higher than the national average. Even more disturbing, almost 40 percent of African American children under 5 years of age live in poverty. And all the while, African Americans continue to be the target for, as we talked about earlier, subprime loans. African Americans are three times more likely to have a subprime loan than whites, accounting for 52 percent of all subprime loans. And as the housing market has collapsed, estimates indicate that African Americans alone will lose between 164 to $213 billion in home equity value during this recession. It's long past time for Congress to address the burden of this economic downturn on the African American community and other communities of color and address the ongoing lack of opportunity in minority communities in America. Even in the face of this massive housing crisis and impending recession, growing unemployment and the highest number of applicants for food stamps since the program's inception, the Bush administration wants to cut funding, mind you, cut funding for the most vital programs so that he can continue to fund his failed occupation in Iraq. This is partly due to Iraq, billions of dollars that have been spent, this economic downturn. I personally call this ``The Iraq Recession.'' At nearly half a trillion dollars, the occupation of Iraq and the resulting Iraq recession has wasted too much of American treasure, drained too much of our American resources, and most importantly, claimed too many American lives. And we cannot dismiss the toll that this occupation has had on the economic security of our Nation and on the average American family who will feel the impact of these expenses for years to come. The Joint Economic Committee estimates the total bill for the war through 2008 will cost the typical family of four a full $16,500. Can you imagine what a family of four can do with $16,500? This conflict has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 brave members of our Armed Forces and has resulted in injuries to more than 28,000 others. Five years after the invasion and occupation of Iraq, 47 million Americans are living without health insurance, 47 million. And more than 36 million people continue to live in poverty, at least 2 million of which have fallen into poverty since 2003. Five years later, it is projected that more than 2 million American families will lose their homes to foreclosure, primarily over the next 2 years. And worse, as the demand is increasing for programs serving children, the elderly and the poor, and those facing the loss of their income, more than half of our States face serious budget shortfalls that will force them to cut back or even eliminate programs that serve the most vulnerable of our populations. So, Mr. Speaker, we must address the needs and the will of our country by bringing an end to this occupation and to the immeasurable costs that will continue to be exacted on the physical and economic security of the American people for generations to come. Forty-one years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King was, as he said, ``compelled to see the war as the enemy of the poor and attack it as such.'' Of course Dr. King was referring to the Vietnam War. But his understanding of the relationship between the vast sums spent dropping bombs in a foreign country, and the resulting lack of funding for programs that relieve hunger and poverty are just as true today as they were back then, especially now with this economic downturn. A recent survey revealed that 68 percent of Americans believe that ending the war and occupation in Iraq is an important step the United States Government must take to respond to the current economic recession. So we must put an end to this occupation, and we must fund a real economic stimulus plan that expands unemployment assistance and food stamp benefits, provides housing assistance and foreclosure relief for homeowners, and expands Medicaid payments to States through the Federal medical assistance percentage. We need to pass a real bankruptcy reform bill. I believe this one that we're working on now is H.R. 3609. It's called the Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007, that will give struggling homeowners a fighting chance to stay in their homes. We've got to reauthorize and realize that HOPE VI is an important, important housing initiative, and pass H.R. 3524, to finally stop putting an end to predatory lending. And instead of spending billions to bail out Bear Stearns, we should really be investing that money to train our workforce and to expand green jobs and eradicate poverty. So as we remember 3 years ago, Hurricane Katrina served as a real rude wake up call to the Nation and the continuing inequality that plagues minority communities, especially the African communities in America. Katrina opened the eyes of many Americans about the continuing burden of poverty that often isolates and traps generations of Americans of color, African Americans, in a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement. So we cannot ignore the legacy of Katrina, nor can we ignore the legacy of Dr. King's words. So this week, as we approach the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination, let us all make a commitment to honor his vision and his life's work. We must end this occupation of Iraq, and we must enact a real economic stimulus plan, so that the American people can move forward, take care of their families, come out of this downturn and really begin to live the type of life, the quality of life that they so deserve in the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world. Thank you, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for giving us the opportunity tonight to talk about the real suffering that people are feeling; but giving people some hope that there are many here in Washington, D.C. on the battlefield trying to turn this around.