Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me applaud you for laying out these very important and very thoughtful bills. Hopefully, people who are listening to the Special Order tonight will understand the importance of them and ask their Members of Congress to support them because they actually should be passed and signed into law. Also, I think it's important that we recognize tonight we are talking also with regard to the Congressional Black Caucus' economic empowerment agenda, and what you have laid out is central to an economic empowerment agenda of the African American community throughout our country, but also, in addition, we have talked a lot about the disparities and why we have to have this economic empowerment agenda because we are still faced with many, many disparities in health care and education and economic development. And when you look at the African American business community and the lack of capital, when you look at the small business administration and the type of problems and difficulties we have had over the years, you can see that, in many ways, many of the initiatives that have begun over the years that would have helped during this economic recession have been just about cut out. So it is about time we go back to the drawing board and regroup and not only resurrect some of the strategies that actually work but come forth with new legislation such as we are talking about tonight. So, in closing, I just want to thank the Congressional Black Caucus, again under Congresswoman Kilpatrick's leadership, for making sure that the overall agenda of the CBC is put forth every Monday night under Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' leadership, because this is so important. In fact, we were in recess over the last couple of weeks, and I ran into many, many people who thanked us for getting the word out, sounding the alarm, providing the information with regard to what we are doing here because so often, the American people, the public, our communities, have no idea what type of legislation is being proposed to help with some of the burdens that they are forced to bear at this point in our history. The $16,500 I mentioned earlier that this Iraq occupation is costing the American people, just think of what they could do with $16,500. And so I have to say, part of what we have to continue to do is to try to end this occupation, end this $3 trillion that's being projected with regard to the war in Iraq and make sure that immediately the American people though can realize some benefits from their tax dollars and also make sure that we can expand unemployment compensation and food stamps and just help them survive through this until we can do something big and something that makes their lives much better. Thank you again.

Ms. LEE. Thank you. And you know, as I was listening to your very clear presentation, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones, I kept thinking of all of the people who really believe in the American dream, who want to send their kids to college, who perhaps may want to start a small business and who know and recognize that the path to wealth in our country is through home ownership. And now, given that the equity has just about eroded, their dreams being shattered. You know, most Americans don't play in the stock market. You know, the only way they can acquire wealth is through home ownership. The only way they can live the American dream is through leveraging the equity in their homes to realize some of their dreams. And now, given this fiasco that we're experiencing, so many people will not realize their dreams. And so the legislation that you mentioned and more that are being talked about and introduced, will, in many ways help stop the hemorrhaging. But, you know, we have to look at this not only in the short-term perspective, but also the long term has to be addressed. And some of this has to do with the deregulation of the financial services industry. And we really need to look at some regulatory reform also in the long haul to make sure that this never happens again. It's almost been the ``Wild West'' in terms of the financial industry.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I want to thank Chairman Conyers and Chairman Reyes for bringing this legislation to the floor which does contain the safeguards necessary to protect the liberties of the American people, while giving the intelligence community powers to protect our Nation, which are very important in this bill. Now, let me tell you, I know from personal experience about wiretaps during the J. Edgar Hoover period and the unwarranted domestic surveillance and wire tapping as a result of the Cointelpro program. Many innocent people, their lives were destroyed, personal information was gathered from innocent people, yes, including myself, who were no threat to national security. Dr. King and his family were the victims of government-sponsored wiretapping. We must never go down this road again. So I fully support this bill because it explicitly declares that the FISA Court is the sole authority for electronic surveillance. It prohibits this reverse targeting. It also makes sure that we do not provide retroactive immunity to telecom companies that participated in any illegal spying by this administration. This bill will protect America and, equally important, protect American civil liberties and values as guaranteed, mind you, guaranteed by the fourth amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. In fact, this is a moral document. A budget should be a moral document. We have bipartisan support from Catholic Charities, from many faith groups, from many organizations around the country.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to now yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, a very active and strong member of the Hispanic Caucus (Ms. Solis).

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes now to the gentlelady from Texas, whose voice is heard loud and clear in terms of her priorities with regard to the Progressive Caucus budget, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Ms. LEE. I yield myself 30 seconds. First of all, the Democratic budget does balance by 2012. The Congressional Black Caucus budget balances by 2012. The Congressional Progressive Caucus budget balances by 2012. There are people in this country making over $1 million, $1 million, and all that we do is we provide the tax cuts which will expire in 2010 for the people in our country who make over $1 million. That's the top 1 percent, mind you, 1 percent of taxpayers, and that brings us at least $222 billion. I yield now 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Waters), who chairs the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee and who has helped us put together this budget, especially the Rebuild America's Communities budget, who has worked on our housing issues, Katrina issues and so many issues for so many years. And this section of this budget is a remarkable section, and I hope everyone will listen to her so they can understand exactly what we did in our Progressive Caucus budget.

Ms. LEE. I would like to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the Chair of the Financial Services Committee, who has had a very good handle on what it takes to bring our economy back.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Along with my colleague from California, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, I cochair the Congressional Progressive Caucus. And let me just take a moment to acknowledge our cochair, Congresswoman Woolsey, whose hard work, whose brilliant intellect, and whose soaring spirit really is with us today, even though she's at home recuperating very well from back surgery. She'll be back very soon to continue to fight to bring our young men and women home from Iraq. I rise today to offer the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget. We call it our antipoverty, pro-opportunity, peace, and security budget. Budgets really are moral documents. They provide a road map to identify and invest in our Nation's values and our priorities. The CPC alternative budget reflects our American mainstream values by making the right investments to fight poverty, to grow our economy, to assist survivors of Hurricane Katrina, to bring common sense to our national security budget, and to redeploy our troops and military contractors from Iraq. Our budget does this in a way that not only balances our priorities but balances the Federal budget. Our budget stands in stark contrast to the President's very cynical proposal that he presented to us last month. The Progressive budget rejects the President's budget and its attack on working families, minority communities, and many of our most vulnerable populations, like seniors and low-income individuals. The Progressive budget rejects the President's ongoing occupation of Iraq that's costing taxpayers $12 billion, $12 billion each month. And the Progressive budget rejects the President's $200 billion cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that would raise premiums for our Nation's seniors and cut payments to the doctors and hospitals who serve them. Our budget is different. It faces the poverty crisis in America head on, starting with redress and reconstruction for gulf coast victims of Hurricane Katrina. It is designed to reverse the Iraq recession by providing a vital stimulus to jump-start the economy. It is the only budget that brings common sense to national security by reinvesting the President's bloated defense funding request for the Pentagon, the highest since World War II. The Progressive alternative will provide at least $551 billion for domestic, nonmilitary discretionary spending in fiscal year 2009, $131.9 billion above the President's request. As part of this increase in domestic discretionary spending, the Progressive Caucus budget also includes $73 billion to develop a sustained, coordinated, public private sector strategy that recommits America to a renewed war on poverty. This will cut the poverty rate in America in half in a decade. This goal is in line with H. Con. Res. 198, a resolution that I introduced which passed unanimously in the House in January. We have budgeted the dollars to bring millions of children out of poverty by expanding the earned income tax credit for larger families and making the child tax credit fully refundable for any family earning more than $3,000. It will also finally begin to fully redress the continuing plight of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Our alternative would provide the funds for the housing and the health care, education, and infrastructure investment, and the vital social services needed to bring people back to Louisiana and Mississippi. Our budget would also immediately provide $118 billion to fund the most effective stimulus programs available to the government. We extend unemployment insurance, food stamp benefits, and critical Medicaid payments to States that will not only help keep State governments solvent, but keep more workers healthy and productive. The economic stimulus package will include assistance for low-income and unemployed people that were ignored by the first stimulus. Additionally, the CPC budget provides foreclosure relief and includes new investments to rebuild our Nation's schools, fix our highways and bridges, and build new affordable housing. These initiatives will create jobs that will help keep more families in their homes. Now, all of these vital programs will be a down payment on our rebuild and reinvest in America initiative. This long-term, sustainable project will create green jobs, reinvigorate our schools, and foster a new commitment to excellence in our students. We will repair our water, power, and transportation systems so that America cannot only compete in the global economy, but once again lead. The Progressive budget also brings common sense to national security spending, providing $468 billion, which is $68 billion under the President's bloated request. Our budget cuts government waste, fraud, and abuse, and eliminates outdated and ineffective Cold War air weapons systems that were developed to fight an enemy that really no longer exists. Most importantly, the CPC budget will end the occupation of Iraq by rapidly and safely redeploying our troops and military contractors. We have wasted far too much money on this occupation already, over a half trillion dollars to date. We cannot afford to spend another $3 trillion that some have estimated this will take. So this budget achieves all these goals and brings the Federal budget, mind you, into budget by fiscal year 2012 and, upon the completion of our reinvest and rebuild America initiative, back into balance in 2018. I urge this body to reject the President's draconian cuts to vital programs for working American families and to support the CPC's alternative budget. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me thank my colleague from Virginia for his leadership. Also I want to thank the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, for her leadership and all of our staff for their very diligent work in putting together this fiscally and morally responsible budget. This budget rejects the President's budget and his attack on working families, minority communities and many of our most vulnerable populations like seniors and low-income individuals. Instead it, invests in the right priorities for our Nation. It calls for the implementation of GAO's recommendation to cut waste, fraud and abuse at the Defense Department. We have witnessed billions and billions of dollars disappear, lost or misspent through companies such as Halliburton or Blackwater. We have found, and the GAO has found, that there is at least now a savings of $63.7 billion between fiscal year 2001 and 2007. We want them to complete their audit, and this budget will allow them to do that so we can realize these savings and invest in our communities, in our families and in our children. This budget also recognizes that domestic security enhances national security. It makes critical investments to build housing and to strengthen our communities. It fully funds SCHIP and increases funding to fight HIV/AIDS. It expands education and job training programs and rebuilds schools destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In short, the Congressional Black Caucus budget is fiscally and it is morally responsible. I urge my colleagues to support it. Let me just highlight the HIV/AIDS budget. We have not received the type of increases for the minority AIDS initiative that our communities need so desperately. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is wreaking havoc on the African American and now unfortunately the Latino communities in our country. And so this bill funds the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program in a way that it should be funded, but it also funds the minority AIDS initiative in the manner that it should be funded. Also let me just say we have seen such massive cuts in programs for education, such as for our historically black colleges and universities. This budget makes sure that our historically black colleges and universities receive the type of funding they need to educate our young people. Also it is important to recognize the Congressional Black Caucus understands that our children need health care this, and this budget provides the funding through SCHIP for health care for our children, our most precious resources, who are our future. And it is a shame and disgrace that we haven't been able to do what we needed to do. So I thank the gentleman from Virginia for making sure this budget is fiscally and morally responsible.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me say a couple of things as I close in response to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. First, let me just talk about the argument with regard to tax increases. Our budget provides for tax fairness. We want to bring back some real justice in the Tax Code. Let me just say to you that the Progressive Caucus believes that individuals earning $1 million or more a year, which is the top 1 percent of our country, that those tax breaks should be rolled back, the tax bracket should be rolled back to 39.6 percent. That raises at least $96 billion. I finally think that that $96 billion can be put into restoring some of the very draconian cuts in our budget to initiatives such as education and health care which the President has cut. Secondly, we're talking about repealing capital gains and dividends tax breaks raises at least $74.4 billion. I think that that $74.4 billion can restore the 50 education programs, including student financial aid, which the President has sought to cut. We also want to roll back the estate tax break, raising at least $74 billion. I think that that $74 billion can go to restore those deep cuts to highway infrastructure or, of all things he is slashing, support for law enforcement. I think that those resources could better be used in those areas. Also, we're talking about in terms of repealing all additional tax breaks for the top 1 percent. That means we have $177 billion. Maybe that could go to help restore the energy assistance for low-income families that the President cut. Or maybe it could go to restore the renewable energy and energy conservation programs that the President decided to cut. And what about this when you talk about tax increases? How about what we want to do to eliminate the corporate tax incentives for offshore jobs? The Tax Code has a number of preferences that directly or indirectly encourages, mind you, encourages United States companies to relocate operations and jobs overseas. How about using those revenues to create some jobs and to invest in job training programs which, of course, the President wants to cut in his budget? That makes sense to me. That's about fairness. That's not about tax increases. We're not talking about increasing taxes on middle-income individuals. We're talking about tax fairness, restoring some tax fairness to the Tax Code. And I don't believe that anyone in our country, if they knew the bogus nature, I think, of this argument with regard to what all of us are trying to do to bring some fairness into the Tax Code, I think the American people would say, what is wrong with raising revenue from those making over $1 million a year? They actually didn't really support that tax cut when they received it, so what's wrong with creating jobs in our own country rather than giving tax breaks for sending jobs offshore? I don't think the American people see that as being the wrong way to use our tax dollars. I don't think that they would worry at all about us repealing some of these estate taxes and individual tax breaks for the 1 percent. And so I think that when you talk about tax increases, we need to be honest and say what we're really talking about, and that's giving tax breaks, continuing to give tax breaks for the very wealthy while our young people, our children, our senior citizens, the poor, low-income, middle-income individuals are struggling to just manage to survive through this recession that has been created, yes, by many of these tax cuts, but also by this deep hole that we are digging in terms of the Iraq war and the Iraq recession. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Conyers, and thank him for his leadership.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me first thank Chairman Spratt for his leadership and for his work on this budget. And I want to also thank his staff and my staff for really helping us put together I think a very good budget that we support. This is a budget that, as compared to the Bush budget, I think the Bush budget is really the worst that we have seen in his long line of bad budgets. And with the staggering $12 billion a month with regard to the cost of the occupation of Iraq, I think it is about $3 trillion being projected, this is dragging our economy further into what we are calling an ``Iraq recession.'' It is particularly shameful that the administration would cut programs at this point in health care, in food assistance and in education which would help so many people who desperately need it right now. That is why I am pleased that the Democratic budget before us rejects those draconian cuts. And I am also pleased that this budget is really war neutral. In fact, as the chairman stated earlier, the $70 billion placeholder in this budget can be used for whatever policy the Congress eventually chooses in authorizing and appropriating legislation, including redeployment of our troops. Now, over 90 Members of Congress signed a letter to President Bush and said that we would not vote for one more dime for combat operations. Only we will vote for money to redeploy our young men and women and bring them home. So as we approach this fifth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, it is far past time that we act on the will of the American people by doing exactly that. So I want to thank the chairman for this budget. And I urge my colleagues to support this budget and to work quickly toward redeploying our troops, toward addressing the waste, fraud and abuse in the Pentagon budget and begin to bring our troops and our military contractors out of Iraq and refocus our efforts and our budget on the many domestic needs here at home, which this budget does.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I voted for this resolution because I believe we must condemn the rocket attacks launched from Gaza into Israel. Many innocent persons, both Israeli and Palestinian, have been killed or injured in the violence. In addition to death and injury, the on-going violence has destroyed property, instilled fear, and disrupted the lives of innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict. I appreciate that the resolution helps document the toll that rocket attacks have exacted on Israeli civilians. But I very much regret that the resolution misses an important opportunity to acknowledge the complexity of problems and issues which give rise to the conflict. And I am particularly troubled that the resolution fails to recognize the depth and breadth of human suffering, misery, and death that has been visited upon the people of Gaza. Mr. Speaker, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has only worsened since the armed takeover by Hamas in June 2007. Basic items such as baby milk, wheat grain, vegetable oil, and dairy products are in short supply. Additionally, the tightening of restrictions on the movement of goods and people by the Israeli government is causing serious hardship according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. The OCHA has found that these restrictions have had the effect of preventing the people of Gaza from receiving desperately needed healthcare treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer patients, pediatric surgery, and neurosurgery. The restrictions on the movement of goods make it difficult for healthcare providers to obtain new diagnostic medical equipment or the parts to service existing equipment that has fallen into disrepair. To make matters worse, it appears that those Palestinians who want to leave Gaza to pursue treatment in Israel or abroad are finding it difficult to do so. Mr. Speaker, ensuring that humanitarian assistance is available and accessible to the people of Gaza is one of the most important steps that can be taken to ensure that the peace process succeeds and is not derailed by continued violence. It is for this reason that I recently wrote to Secretary of State Rice urging her to do all she can to make certain that vital humanitarian goods and services are successfully delivered in Gaza. I believe the moral force of the resolution would have been enhanced had it called for similar action. Finally, this resolution cites the roles of Iran, Syria, and Egypt in enabling these attacks. I want to be clear that nothing recited in the resolution would justify a preemptive military response against these countries nor should it be used as grounds to build a case for such an action. Mr. Speaker, the rocket attacks against Israel condemned by this resolution have caused great suffering to the victims. Acknowledging that suffering in a congressional resolution is a fitting and proper thing to do. But at the end of the day, the peace and justice we all seek will not come from passing a resolution in Congress. Rather, a just and lasting peace will come from the parties resolving in their hearts and minds to rededicate themselves to the active engagement in good faith negotiation to bring the two-state solution into being. I call upon the Administration to redouble its efforts in discharging its indispensable role as honest broker in the peace process.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, on October 23, 2007 the House passed H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. My vote in support of this bill was an error. I am concerned that this legislation creates the appearance that our constitutional rights could be undermined or that peaceful dissent and protest could be discouraged. I would like the Record to reflect that I stand in opposition to this legislation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as an original co-sponsor, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 289, which honors the NAACP on its 99th anniversary. I want to thank Congressman Al Green, who served as president of the Houston Branch of the NAACP for over 10 years, for once again introducing this important resolution. I also want to recognize the outstanding job that NAACP Chairman Julian Bond has done in leading the organization. Almost a century ago, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in New York City during this month of February that we now recognize as Black History Month. As a child of the civil rights movement, I witnessed first hand the leadership of the NAACP in fighting for human rights. I remember vividly, the role the NAACP played in shattering segregation in my birthplace of El Paso, Texas. We all know their great contributions: From the victory in Brown vs. Board of Education, to the non-violent sit ins at segregated lunch counters, to passage of the Voting Rights Act, the NAACP has played a central role in every great civil rights battle of the last century. Today, the Nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization continues to be a powerful voice in the ongoing struggle against injustice, oppression, and war. The NAACP has been a dedicated and constant partner as I have worked with my colleagues to end the war in Iraq, stop the genocide in Darfur, and eradicate the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. They opposed the Iraq war from the beginning and support our efforts to end the occupation and bring the troops home. They led the charge in support of my bill authorizing divestment from Sudan and they worked with faith, activist and student groups to ensure that it got signed into law at the end of last year. And on HIV/AIDS, they have consistently been on the frontlines advocating for increased funding to help end the devastation this disease has caused in the African American community. In short, the NAACP continues to demonstrate their commitment to stand on the battlefield and lead the charge for what is right. They deserve this honor and our praise and they deserve our thanks. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor this evening to join Congresswoman Woolsey in her 250th special order on the ongoing quagmire in Iraq. I just want to take a moment to commend Congresswoman Woolsey and thank her for her leadership and her commitment to ending this occupation of Iraq and bringing our troops home. It was her resolution several years ago that we were able to begin, actually, the debate on this floor with regard to bringing our young men and women home. So I do have to salute you, Congresswoman Woolsey, and thank you again very much for your commitment and your tenacity and your willingness to be a voice that is so desperately needed to be heard. Madam Speaker, it's really, though, unfortunate that Congresswoman Woolsey, myself, Congresswoman Waters, and all of our colleagues have to come even once to this floor and speak out against the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. But the reality is, we are in Iraq. And the reality is, also, that the cost of our invasion and the subsequent occupation of Iraq have been very high. As of February 10, 2008, according to the Defense Department, 3,955 of our brave young men and women have given their lives, nearly 30,000 United States troops have been injured, and countless thousands of Iraqis have been killed. We've committed a half trillion dollars and gotten what in return? We are still occupying a country which has undermined our standing and credibility in the world, what we have done as it relates to our occupation of Iraq. And so we have an opportunity once again to talk about why we do not believe funding the President or giving the President another blank check for waging war in Iraq makes any sense. We have the opportunity to turn this around in the coming war supplemental, which I understand may be once again before us next month. We must insist that the only funds that the President should get should be to protect our troops on the ground and bring them back home safely, not one more dime to continue the occupation, nor one more dime to continue the combat that is taking place in Iraq. And of course we call that, and it is better known as a fully funded redeployment. Equally as important, when our troops come home, we must ensure that they all come home. And that's why we continue to work with our colleagues to include provisions to prohibit permanent military bases in Iraq. We have been successful, in a bipartisan fashion, in including language in a number of authorizing and appropriation bills, as well as a stand-alone bill, H.R. 2929, which passed the House in July of 2007 by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. In spite of the fact that the President has signed these provisions into law, I believe it's six times since 2006, he issued a statement as he signed the fiscal year 2008 Department of Defense authorization bill signaling his intention to ignore the provisions banning permanent military bases, to ignore that provision. Sadly, unfortunately, this is a pattern coming from the White House that really does seem intent on cutting Congress out of any decisions relating to the permanent stationing of the United States military in Iraq. At the end of last year, without formal congressional input, this declaration of principles for a long-term relationship of cooperation and friendship between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America was discussed between Prime Minister Maliki and President Bush. Now these ``principles'' will set the stage for future agreements on the disposition of United States troops in Iraq. To make certain that this does not end up being a backdoor way to keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely, which of course many of us are worried about, I recently introduced H.R. 5128, which will require that any formal agreement emerging from this declaration of principles has the approval of both the House and the Senate. Further, it states a sense of Congress that the Iraqi Parliament should put their seal of approval on any agreement as well, which just makes sense. Finally, it will prohibit funding for any agreement that may emerge from these principles that does not have the approval of the House and the Senate. There's no denying that a majority of the American people are with us. A recent CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll has found that nearly two-thirds of all Americans oppose the occupation of Iraq. Madam Speaker, we need to end this occupation and bring our troops home as safely and as quickly as possible. And it is because of the courage and fortitude of Members such as Congresswomen Woolsey and Waters, who come to this floor each and every day. When the history of this period is written, historians will look back and say that there were some who opposed this and wanted it to end and end quickly.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the courageous life of our dear friend and colleague, Chairman Tom Lantos. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Chairman Lantos, and I would like to first offer my deepest condolences to Annette, his family, friends and staff, and of course California's 12th Congressional District. And I have to thank Mrs. Lantos and Tom's entire family for sharing this great human being with the entire world. Chairman Lantos was an exceptional human being, and we're hearing much of this tonight. But I've always said, To know him was to love him. His life embodied the true meaning of courage and the power of the human spirit. As the sole member of his family to survive the Holocaust, Chairman Lantos made it his life's mission, and we all know it was his life's mission, to fight for the oppressed. Throughout his years in Congress he fought tirelessly to ensure human rights issues always had an important and visible place within these Halls. And as the founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, he continually reminded us that combating injustice anywhere and everywhere in the world was not only the right thing to do, but it was our duty as elected representatives of the people. I had the privilege to work alongside this giant of a human being on so many issues. As a former member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for 8 years, we worked together on a number of issues that we both cared passionately about, including legislation to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, to end the genocide in Darfur, to address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children, and, of course, to end the occupation of Iraq. And I will always remember the respect, and his wisdom and his insight and his guidance, as he helped me navigate the legislative process with the late Chairman Henry Hyde on the HIV/AIDS legislation. I imagine that they are, at this moment, renewing their wonderful friendship. I will also miss our personal conversations, especially about his grandchildren, my grandchildren, his great grandchildren. He knew all of their names, and he knew all of their birth dates. Also, we have to remember Tom loved animals; his deceased Gigi and of course now Chippy. I mean, it was amazing that this giant of a human being was such a gentle man. I know that we must rededicate ourselves to Tom's life. His spirit is in us, and I will miss him. I will miss his love. May he rest in peace. What a gentleman.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to discuss an unwarranted and downright hostile attack on my constituents and the people of Berkeley, CA by Republicans on the floor of the House earlier today. I'm here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to set the record straight and to respond to their false claims and distortions. Madam Speaker, it never ceases to amaze me how some people will go to any length to score political points. That is what happened here on the House floor earlier today when several Republican members said they wanted to strip the people of Berkeley, CA of much-needed Federal funding. Let us be clear: punishing the people of Berkeley for political gain is unfair and simply plain wrong. This is nothing more than grandstanding and posturing on behalf of Republicans who want to make a political point for their own benefit. I want to begin by talking about the primary target of the Republican campaign against the people of Berkeley, and in this case, the children of Berkeley. Republicans claimed that one earmark was for the creation of organic school lunches in the Berkeley School District. This characterization of a school lunch initiative developed by the Chez Panisse Foundation is dishonest. This school lunch initiative aims to revolutionize school lunch by treating lunch as an important part of the day, as well as integrating lessons about wellness, sustainability and nutrition into the academic curriculum. The funding will aid in the development of a program that would treat lunch as an academic subject for all public school students in the district, from kindergarten through high school. These funds will support a comprehensive approach to improved health and health education in the public schools that will empower students with a sense of responsibility for themselves and their health. it's about nutrition for our children. Next I want to talk about their efforts to attack the University of California and the memory of a great leader in this body, former Congressman Bob Matsui. This funding will be used for UC Berkeley's Institute of Government Studies for the creation of the Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service. The Matsui Center will develop a curriculum that will encourage students to think about politics and public service not as separate activities, but as a continuum of civic engagement. As a great public university, Berkeley has a special obligation to train the next generation of leaders, as well as to help them develop the political and policy skills that will enable them to participate constructively in public life. The program will also have educational components in Sacramento and Washington, DC--capitol cities which were touchstones for Congressman Bob Matsui's long public service career. It's about education. Now allow me to turn my attention to an item that the Republicans did not want to tell you about--funding for the disabled and the Ed Roberts Campus. This funding will be used for the construction of the Ed Roberts Campus at the Ashby BART Station in Berkeley. The Ed Roberts Campus is the vision of eight disability organizations in California which have joined forces to create a multi-tenant facility. The facility will serve as an intermodal transit center, as well as a transportation information and travel-training center for seniors and people with disabilities. It will provide services in a fully accessible, technologically- advanced environment located at BART's Ashby stop. The campus will serve approximately 2,000 disabled people per week, most of whom will arrive by public transportation. The Ed Roberts Campus is an innovative approach to transit oriented development and will be the first disability service center at a major fully-accessible transit hub. As a result, people throughout the region will have access to programs that will enable them to obtain needed health care education, job training and other services in order to achieve their life and work goals. It's about providing quality services for the disabled! Finally, I want to mention another item that the Republican supporters of this measure will not mention--that their bill would intentionally undermine the safety and security of the people of Berkeley by denying critical funding for Berkeley public safety agencies' interoperability. This particular funding will be used to update Berkeley's public safety computer dispatch and communications system to ensure systems interoperability. It will support critical inter-jurisdictional communications and coordination needs. This funding will help to enhance Berkeley's ability to maintain a secure and interoperable computer and communications system and maximize sustainable use after a natural or human made disaster. It's about public safety! Madam Speaker, the statements by Republicans on the floor of the House earlier today were nothing but a shameful attack on my constituents in order to score perceived political points. It is just plain wrong and it is a real shame that it is happening on the floor of this House. I have said it before and I will say it again, I will fight to defend the constituents of my district and their right to receive Federal funds.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 942. As an original co-sponsor of this resolution, I am proud to join my colleagues in recognizing the month of February as Black History Month. I would like to thank my friend and colleague from Texas, Congressman Al Green for introducing this very important resolution. As we recognize Black History Month, I would also like to note, that we feel the loss of our dear friends and CBC colleagues who passed away over the last year: Congresswomen Julia Carson, Juanita Millender McDonald and founding CBC member former Congressman `Gus' Hawkins. They always joined in on the celebrations. We truly miss them, but their accomplishments live on as a part of Black History and beyond. As First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I want to take a moment to commemorate Black History Month by advocating for a greater commitment to the domestic and global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Under funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative and with our domestic HIV/AIDS programs flat-lining, data shows communities of color are increasingly bearing the brunt of the disease. Over 188,000 African- Americans were living with AIDS at the end of 2005, representing 44 percent of all cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In order to raise awareness. I introduced H. Con. Res. 280 to recognize and support the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and encourages state and local governments, public health agencies and the media to emphasize and publicize the importance of this day among the African American community, and all communities. Celebrated each year on February 7th, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day encourages African Americans and all Americans to ``Get Educated, Get Involved, and Get Tested.'' Though we recognize Black History Month this month, it is our duty to pursue policies of social justice that are fair, sustainable, and that help the most disadvantaged in our society. As an African American woman and legislator in this era of tremendous change, I am doubly aware of the obligations that we have as a community and as a country, and Black History Month and the celebration of African American involvement. Mr. Speaker, let me say that during this Black History Month, I will continue to work with the CBC and Congress to identify bipartisan solutions to eradicate HIV/AIDS in our nation and abroad. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.